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Jeff Bezos sued by former housekeeper over working conditions, discrimination by other staff
CNBC ^ | November 3, 2022 | Annie Palmer

Posted on 11/06/2022 4:15:59 PM PST by Twotone

A woman who says she worked as a housekeeper for Jeff Bezos is suing the Amazon founder and companies that manage his properties, claiming she endured “unsafe and unhealthy work conditions” and was subject to racial discrimination by other staff.

Mercedes Wedaa said she was hired by Bezos’ staff in 2019 to help maintain the billionaire tech magnate’s Seattle-area property. Wedaa and other housekeeping staff regularly worked between 10 to 14 hours a day, and weren’t given adequate meal or rest breaks, she alleged in the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in King County Superior Court in Seattle.

The lawsuit claims there was no designated break room or rest area, and no easily accessible bathroom. Wedaa and other housekeepers were prohibited from using a toilet in a nearby security room, which resulted in employees climbing out the laundry room window to access a bathroom, according to the lawsuit, which was earlier reported by GeekWire.

The complaint alleges that Wedaa and other housekeepers frequently developed urinary tract infections because they “had to spend large parts of their day unable to use the toilet.” Housekeeping staff also was allegedly prohibited from entering the residence when the Bezos family was there, unless they were cleaning.

Household managers allegedly treated Wedaa and other Hispanic cleaning staff poorly, while they were “respectful and polite” to Bezos’ white groundskeepers and maintenance staff, the complaint states.

Wedaa claims she was ultimately fired from her role after she raised complaints about working conditions and discriminatory behavior.

Harry Korrell, a lawyer for Bezos and other defendants, which include Zefram and Northwestern, two companies that manage his interests and properties, said Wedaa was fired for performance issues.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: discrimination; jeffbezos; lawsuit

1 posted on 11/06/2022 4:15:59 PM PST by Twotone
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To: Twotone

A store manager, when and where are not exactly important, locked the front door midday and walked away having called OSHA claiming the working conditions were dangerous.

The exact problem?

A ghost in the building.

I am not making this up as I know the business owner.


2 posted on 11/06/2022 4:25:14 PM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Twotone

Bezos, like a typical Democrat, is thinking it hard to get a good house negro these days.


3 posted on 11/06/2022 4:26:15 PM PST by ConservativeInPA ( Scratch a leftist and you'll find a fascist )
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To: Twotone
...endured “unsafe and unhealthy work conditions”

Was she expected to clean the toilets she wasn't allowed to use?

4 posted on 11/06/2022 4:36:40 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (The “I” in Democrat stands for “Integrity.”)
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To: Twotone

“The Help” part 2. Niss Mercedes serves Jeff Bezos her “special” tamale pie.


5 posted on 11/06/2022 4:36:44 PM PST by toothfairy86
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To: toothfairy86

Miss


6 posted on 11/06/2022 4:37:57 PM PST by toothfairy86
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To: Twotone

$$ Generic money grab$$


7 posted on 11/06/2022 4:41:03 PM PST by MotorCityBuck ( Keep the change, you filthy animal! )
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To: Twotone
"Mercedes Wedaa "

Is she here legally?

8 posted on 11/06/2022 4:41:50 PM PST by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne )
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To: Twotone

You would think someone like Bezos, someone as rich as Croesus, would lavish pay and perks on his personal staff simply to avoid sordid stuff like this.


9 posted on 11/06/2022 4:42:02 PM PST by Blurb2350 (posted from my 1500-watt blow dryer)
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To: Twotone

I don’t know the truth on this particular claim, but this rotten attitude toward employees permeates the Bezos empire, I can attest. It’s not a slave situation, but it can be a very cold, unfeeling atmosphere. Basically they treat people like numbers and robots. They don’t care that people are flesh and blood. It’s not warm and fuzzy at all. So this could very well be true.


10 posted on 11/06/2022 4:47:37 PM PST by beaversmom
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To: Rurudyne

“called OSHA claiming the working conditions were dangerous.”

That’s a weird one, but the fact is that OSHA’s main function is to allow disgruntled, useless former employees to harass their former employer.


11 posted on 11/06/2022 5:06:36 PM PST by suthener ( )
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To: suthener

OSHA: more proof the federal doesn’t need no stinkin’Constitution.


12 posted on 11/06/2022 5:15:28 PM PST by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Blurb2350

A six-figure salary is, I believe, a lot for that job. AMZ warehouse personnel really have to work like dogs and get a little more than minimum wage.

Will be interesting to see how this plays out. I don’t really care who wins.


13 posted on 11/06/2022 5:15:59 PM PST by Veto! (FJB sucks rocks)
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To: Veto!

Not sure what the min wage is in your area, but Amazon in Indiana is starting around $18/hr. Fast foods are $15/hr and can’t get people, all of them have help wanted signs.


14 posted on 11/06/2022 5:19:20 PM PST by nascarnation (Let's go Brandon!)
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To: Veto!

Class envy sells newspapers.


15 posted on 11/06/2022 5:22:07 PM PST by ladyjane
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To: Blurb2350

My family has employed house help for a number of generations. Live in nurses, housekeepers, grounds men drivers daily help,, and specialty help..

One thing very clear to me.. most people do not know how to treat the people who work for them in household capacity.

Help is to be treated well. These are the people who are in the middle of your lives. Some, like our old Nernie graduated to becoming honored family members. The rest are to be treated respectfully, and paid well. Living quarters were comfortable with private bath and service bathrooms always available and accessible for all help.

Anyone as classless or new rich to do what bozos is accused of doing would totally written off. Because help talks to other help.


16 posted on 11/06/2022 5:58:46 PM PST by Chickensoup (Genocide is here. Leftist extremists are spearhheading the Genocide against conservatives. )
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To: Twotone

Mansions can sometimes have 11 bathrooms.


17 posted on 11/06/2022 6:17:45 PM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: Twotone

My friend Sharon did house cleaning for rich folks.

Sharon and her friend could usually tidy up a very large house in about two days when the owners headed north from Florida.


18 posted on 11/06/2022 6:20:55 PM PST by Brian Griffin
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To: Twotone

“and was subject to racial discrimination by other staff.”

Of course.


19 posted on 11/06/2022 6:36:10 PM PST by dljordan
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