I believe Amazon has built a somewhat more dreadful work environment than traditional factories.

First, it seems like they have optimized every last detail to the point where people are robbed of their individuality. If your wrist watch tells you when to pee, that leaves traces not just in your underwear, but in your psyche.

Second, traditional blue-collar work came with a social support network, build-in. There was a sense of belonging that can be described as anything from “class consciousness” to just the typical camaraderie of working a job, any job, with the same team for years. Amazon actively works against this when, for example, working against the formation of unions. They also inadvertently prevent it through their reliance on temporary work, and rapidly changing assignments, work procedures, etc.