Amazon Algorithm Fired Delivery Drivers Without Human Review, Trapping Them in Appeals Limbo
Incident Details
Summary
Amazon's automated management system for its gig-economy Flex delivery drivers fired workers without human oversight, leaving them unable to effectively appeal. The algorithm assessed performance metrics including GPS deviations, package scan timing, and customer complaints. When thresholds were breached, termination emails were sent automatically. Stephen Normandin (Phoenix, AZ), a driver for 2.5 years, received a termination email citing a photo of him that he said wasn't him; months of appeals led nowhere. Dricka Barbosa was fired after her route data triggered the system. Reporting revealed a pattern: drivers fired by algorithm had almost no recourse, as human supervisors could not override the system. The practice highlighted how AI-driven labor management strips workers of employment protections.
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