Drones have been gaining a lot of ground in the past decade, with more and more companies finding novel ways to harness the technology in their businesses. Amazon in particular has been on the cutting edge of drone delivery innovations, with many expecting the company to become one of the premier aerial delivery services in the world. However, a recent report suggests that Amazon has been neglecting safety in its pursuit of success, and that one manager was punished for calling out the company on its supposed negligence.
Jason Edward Tapp, a former Amazon manager in charge of the “last mile” service, claims he was fired after raising safety concerns over Amazon’s drone delivery crashes. According to court documents, Tapp had been with the company for seven years, and in that time had raised several safety-related issues related to the last mile service. He argued that the risk of falling and crashing drones was too great to ignore, and that Amazon should take steps to mitigate the potential risks.
His warnings fell on deaf ears, however, and in October 2020 Amazon terminated Tapp’s employment without reason. Tapp believed his advocacy of safety issues was the cause of his termination and submitted a legal case against the company. According to the court filing, Amazon has refused to address Tapp’s concerns, stating that he has not provided specific evidence of safety issues with its drones.
The case of Jason Edward Tapp raises questions about the legal ramifications of speaking up over safety concerns at work. His case could potentially set a precedent for how companies respond to employees voicing safety concerns, and the importance of open communication between managers and workers.
It’s likely that Amazon’s legal defense will revolve around protecting its brand and profits, as its dispute with Tapp is an example of a situation that could critically damage the company’s public image. If Tapp succeeds in proving that Amazon let him go because of his advocacy of safety measures, then it could provide a critical legal victory for other employees around the world who have been silenced for expressing similar opinions.
Regardless of the outcome of this case, Amazon would be wise to take the safety of its drones seriously – it is the duty of any employer to provide a safe working environment for its workers. A workplace accident involving a drone could have serious repercussions for not just Amazon, but the entire industry. Until this issue is resolved, Amazon should seriously consider taking the necessary measures to protect its workers and the public from potential drone-related injuries or accidents.
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