I started this blog in order to publish my open letter to the CEO of Amazon, where I worked for the last three and half years.  I was a warehouse associate at a delivery station in Texas.  When I walked through those glass doors on Day One, I anticipated that I’d be a small cog in a huge machine; I wanted—and fully expected—to blend in.  Never in a million years could I have predicted the way my experience would unfold.  The events I experienced during my time at Amazon could be a checklist of EEOC violations or a b-roll of HR nightmare fuel.

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The blog is titled Big Fucking Smile.  I've grappled with whether or not I should use that expletive in the name of my page.  Some readers may find the language offensive.  The fact is that the explicit title corresponds with the content of the stories shared on this blog.  Many of these stories are riddled with slurs and profanity and, as such, are unsuitable for certain audiences.  However, I chose not to censor my account of my time at Amazon because to sugarcoat or filter the truth, reduces its power.

 

Writing everything down, getting the words out, means that others can bear witness.  Even if just one person reads about what’s going on at Amazon, that’s one more person than if I had stayed silent.  For anyone out there who finds yourself trapped in a toxic work environment, whether you’re a package handler or a corporate professional, I hope I can uplift you with this narrative.  I hope I make you laugh.  I hope you know that you’re not alone.