Amazon Worker Concerns Escalate After Gun Incidents

Two separate incidents involving guns at an Amazon warehouse in West Jefferson have raised concerns among employees about workplace safety. In the first incident, 22-year-old Ali Hamsa Yusuf entered the warehouse with a gun, resulting in an exchange of gunfire with Columbus police away from the facility, where Yusuf later died. No one was injured at the warehouse during this incident. Days later, a second incident occurred outside the Amazon property when a contracted worker retrieved a gun from his vehicle before an altercation with a truck driver, although no shots were fired.
Following these incidents, Amazon employees, including Breyonn Dockery who had only been working at the location for about a month, expressed their concerns on the company’s message board ‘MyVoice.’ Dockery, who was scheduled to work on the day of the first shooting but had taken the day off, questioned what measures the company would take to prevent such occurrences in the future. She was subsequently suspended and had a meeting with HR and Employee Relations where she discussed her concerns and suggested more safety protocols.
Despite her suggestions, Dockery felt targeted for raising safety issues and was informed not to return to work, albeit with pay. She decided to quit the following day. Amazon stated that the suspension was in line with standard protocol following an alleged altercation with a manager and emphasized their commitment to employee safety, highlighting their comprehensive approach to workplace violence prevention.
Dockery, now employed elsewhere, remains concerned for her former co-workers’ safety, suggesting that Amazon should acknowledge the incidents and communicate effectively about their prevention strategies. Amazon maintains that they encourage employees to share their concerns and experiences, asserting the importance of employee safety and the ongoing evaluation of their security policies.