California passes law targeting Amazon labor algorithms
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill Wednesday that would block Amazon and other companies from punishing warehouse workers who fail to meet certain performance metrics for taking rest or meal breaks. The California Senate approved the measure earlier this month.
The law allows warehouse workers to challenge performance goals that many say discourage them from taking bathroom breaks or other rest breaks throughout the work day. The bill was written in response to high rates of reported injuries at Amazon warehouses where performance quotas are algorithmically enforced.
The bill is the first attempt to create transparency and protections"
The law does not explicitly name Amazon in its text, but both Republican and Democratic...