Tech workers at Amazon say the retail giant has threatened to fire them for speaking out against the company’s role in the climate crisis, the Guardian reported.
According to an email obtained by the outlet, Amazon launched an investigation into Maren Costa, an employee who made public comments to the media urging Amazon to do more to fight climate change. The email reportedly informed Costa that she would not face any punishment at the time, but any future unauthorized commentary of the kind “may result in formal corrective action, to and including termination of your employment with Amazon.”
Costa said at least four other Amazon employees who united to call out the company’s approach to climate action have received similar warnings and questioning, and at least two have also been threatened with termination.
“It was scary to be called into a meeting like that, and then to be given a follow-up email saying that if I continued to speak up, I could be fired,” Costa told the Guardian. “But I spoke up because I’m terrified by the harm the climate crisis is already causing, and I fear for my children’s future. Any policy that says I can’t talk about something that is a threat to my children – all children – is a problem for me.”
An Amazon spokesperson said the response Costa received was in accordance with the company’s external communications policy, which was updated for staff in the spring of last year.
“Our policy regarding external communications is not new and, we believe, is similar to other large companies,” the spokesperson said, adding that the updates to the policy are intended to “make it easier for employees to participate in external activities,” including press interviews and media appearances. “As with any company policy, employees may receive a notification from our HR team if we learn of an instance where a policy is not being followed.”
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