Amazon is ridiculed on social media after revealing plans to offer warehouse workers time in a coffin-like ‘wellness chamber’ to focus on their mental health
- Amazon has been mocked over plans to put ‘wellness chambers’ in warehouses
- Social media users likened the ‘dystopian’ pods to a coffin or a ‘crying booth’
- Inside are potted plants, a small fan and a computer to watch relaxation videos
- US retail giant deleted Twitter clip unveiling the chambers after online ridicule
Amazon has been ridiculed over plans to put ‘wellness chambers’ in its warehouses so that stressed workers can meditate and watch relaxation videos.
The US retail giant announced the move in a video on its Twitter account, only to swiftly delete the post after it was mocked by social media users.
Many likened the cubicle-sized ‘AmaZen’ pod to a coffin, a ‘crying booth’, and even a Portaloo.
It’s AmaZen! Amazon has been ridiculed over plans to put ‘wellness chambers’ in its warehouses (pictured) so that stressed workers can meditate and watch relaxation videos
Amazon, which has faced repeated criticism about the working conditions at its facilities, said the chamber was aimed at helping staff focus on their mental health.
Inside, there are leaflets and a fan to cool down the employee, plus a few small potted plants on a shelf.
There is just enough room for a chair and small computer table against one wall, while the top of the booth is painted as a blue sky with clouds.
In the now-deleted video, the chamber’s creator Leila Brown said: ‘With AmaZen I wanted to create a space that’s quiet, that people could go and focus on their mental and emotional well-being.
‘The ZenBooth is an interactive kiosk where you can navigate through a library of mental health and mindful practices to recharge the internal battery.’
Last month Amazon announced a scheme called WorkingWell which it said would focus on giving staff ‘physical and mental activities, wellness exercises, and healthy eating support’.
Inside there are leaflets and a fan to cool down employees, plus a few plants on a shelf and a computer to watch relaxation videos. The top of the booth is painted as a blue sky with clouds
Backlash: In the now-deleted video, the pod’s creator Leila Brown said she ‘wanted to create a space that’s quiet, that people could go and focus on their mental and emotional well-being’
Last month Amazon announced a scheme called WorkingWell which it said would focus on giving staff ‘physical and mental activities, wellness exercises, and healthy eating support’
Describing the AmaZen pods, the company said: ‘During shifts employees can visit AmaZen stations and watch short videos featuring easy-to-follow well-being activities, including guided meditations, positive affirmations, calming scenes with sounds.’
It also announced separate ‘wellness zones’ where employees can stretch out and focus on body mechanics with the help of interactive videos and written guidance.
The wellness pod has been heavily mocked on social media, with Twitter users comparing it to a coffin, crying booth and even a portaloo.
The wellness pod has been heavily mocked on social media, with Twitter users comparing it to a coffin, crying booth and even a portaloo
One user said: ‘I just mentioned the Amazon Health Booth thing as “a coffin for your dignity” in irl conversation and I’m very proud of it.’
Another joked: ‘Having a peaceful break in the mental health closet in the dead center of the factory floor where all my coworkers can visually observe that I’m having a bad mental health day & stare at the lower half of my body through the partially-windowed door.’
MailOnline has approached Amazon for a comment.