An Amazon employee recently took to TikTok to expose what they claim to be an unfair practice impacting night shift workers during the annual end of Daylight Saving Time. According to the Tampa-based TikTok user, identified as @ki2xs._, they and their colleagues walked out an hour early after learning they would not be compensated for the extra hour they were required to work due to the time shift.
In a post that has now gone viral with over four million views, @ki2xs._ highlighted the issue, writing, "POV: you work @ Amazon during the time change & they won't pay us an extra hr, so we all left an hr early." The video has drawn significant attention, with many viewers voicing support and sharing similar workplace grievances.
Amazon Workers Take a Stand Against Unpaid Hours
The TikTok post sparked a wave of responses from Amazon employees and supporters alike, many of whom echoed similar frustrations about workplace policies and compensation. "It makes no sense 😭 you get paid BY THE HOUR, and there's literally an extra hour," one viewer commented. Another advised that federal law requires compensation for every hour worked, suggesting that the employees could consider legal action if they were not paid for the additional time.
According to a follow-up video from @ki2xs._, her manager had informed them beforehand that the extra hour wouldn't be compensated, effectively treating the shift as a standard 10-hour shift despite the time change. This revelation drew further criticism, with viewers remarking, "The hour isn't imaginary just because the number on the clock changed. They need to pay." Some users even suggested filing a class-action lawsuit if Amazon maintained this stance.
How Daylight Saving Time Disrupts Night Shift Workers
In another video, @ki2xs._ shared a conversation with a supervisor who confirmed that some night shift workers would not be paid for the extra hour. The TikTok user asked directly, "So for the ones who worked yesterday, if they worked the whole shift, are they getting paid 11 hours or just ten?" The supervisor responded with "ten hours," confirming the workers' concerns.
The lack of consistent policy has left many Amazon employees unsure of their rights regarding daylight saving adjustments. A 2020 Reddit thread reveals that this has been an ongoing issue at Amazon facilities, with workers discussing how the company handles the fall and spring time changes differently across warehouses. In some locations, workers reported that they were instructed to clock out as if they had worked the usual hours despite the added time.
Mixed Policies Across Amazon Facilities
Some workers in the Reddit thread explained that their facilities compensated them for the extra hour, highlighting discrepancies in Amazon's approach to the issue. "Let's say you work 6:30 pm to 5:00 am, you will clock out at 4:00 am," one commenter explained, referencing how their facility handled the rollback.
According to other workers in the thread, their Amazon facility management assured them that they would receive the additional hour's pay. "We just got a text about it for my F.C.," one worker wrote. "You work your regular shift including the extra hour and are, of course, paid for it." However, as @ki2xs._ asserted in their follow-up TikTok, this situation wasn't just fabricated for social media. They insisted that they had evidence of the policy, asking, "Would y'all like the sign in the bathroom & all over the building that states the exact same thing?"
The History and Controversy Behind Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time (DST), introduced in 1918 to maximise daylight hours during the summer, has long been a contentious issue. This year, DST ended on November 3, shifting clocks back one hour and resulting in shorter daylight hours during the evening. While some people appreciate the added morning light, the disruption impacts those on fixed schedules, such as night shift workers, who may be forced to work longer or shorter shifts than usual.
This extra hour of work has posed challenges for shift workers across various industries, but the uneven policies and responses have left Amazon employees frustrated. Efforts to end DST altogether have seen limited progress. In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which aimed to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, eliminating the biannual clock changes. However, the act lacked the necessary support in the House of Representatives, and similar legislation has stalled since then.
Worker Backlash Highlights Broader Issues with Amazon's Policies
Amazon's handling of this issue has intensified ongoing debates about the treatment of hourly workers. Some TikTok users commented on Amazon's history of workplace issues, saying, "Till this day I still get settlement checks from Amazon when I worked there 10 years ago. They violate so much stuff." Another remarked, "No job ever pays you through the time change," indicating a broader problem across companies when it comes to fair pay for night shift workers during DST adjustments.
As the TikTok video continues to gain traction, it draws attention to the growing demand for workplace fairness, transparency, and consistent treatment across all Amazon facilities. The incident highlights the need for large employers like Amazon to address inconsistencies and ensure that their policies uphold fair labour practices, especially for hourly and night shift workers impacted by external factors like Daylight Saving Time.
