AMAZON employees are exposed to such gruelling working conditions, they fall asleep on their feet, it has been claimed.
Bone-weary workers reportedly have just nine seconds to process a package during the long-hours at the online store warehouse, with a Mirror investigation claiming employees are suffering panic attacks as they struggle to keep up with demand.
According to the news outlet, one worker even had to be taken to hospital by an ambulance when they collapsed on the job.
Others simply slumped asleep where they stood, exhausted from the physically demanding job that sees them walking at least 10 miles a day.
Amazon has insisted that it provides a "safe and positive workplace", but according to the Mirror, a whiteboard of staff comments was full to the brim of complaints.
One staff member asked bosses: "Why are we not allowed to sit when it is quiet and not busy? We are human beings, not slaves and animals."
Another said: "I expected it to be all modern and powered by robots in here, be my eyes are wide open now."
Other workers complained about dirty toilets and short breaks, facing shifts that run from 7.30am to 6pm.
According to the investigation, workers are given two half-hour breaks during the day.
The online packing plant ships 1.2million items per year, with Black Friday one of the busiest times of the year.
Last year, it was revealed more than 1,000 workers work to select and package products ahead of Black Friday.
Amazon sold more than 7.4 million items on Friday November 18 in 2015, and have recruited an extra 20,000 seasonal workers and 3.500 permanent staff members in a bid to keep up with demand this year.character
A spokesperson for Amazon told the Mirror: “Amazon provides a safe and positive workplace with competitive pay and benefits from day one. We are proud to have created thousands of permanent roles in our UK fulfilment centres in recent years.
“We offer great jobs and a positive environment with opportunities for growth. As with most companies, we expect a certain level of performance.
“Targets are based on previous performance achieved by our workers. Associates are evaluated over a long period of time as we know a variety of things could impact the ability to meet expectations in any given day or hour.”
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