Technologies

NY Eyes Amazon, UPS With New Warehouse Safety Regulations

The regulations are designed to protect workers from unreasonable quotas, which advocates say boost injury rates at Amazon.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Warehouse Worker Protection Act on Wednesday, codifying restrictions on the use of demanding quotas for workers fulfilling orders for Amazon, UPS and other logistics companies.

Under the law, companies like Amazon with warehouse operations will be required to disclose quota requirements to workers. The law also aims to prevent warehousing companies from firing or disciplining workers for failing to hit quotas that haven’t been disclosed or don’t allow for legally required breaks.

Hochul said she was proud to sign the bill into law «as we celebrate the holidays with gifts and packages.»

The law comes as holiday shopping reaches its peak in the US. Amazon’s pace of work has been the subject of criticism from advocates and workplace safety regulators, who say the company’s quotas lead to higher injury rates than at other warehousing companies. Regulators in the state of Washington have fined the company for injuries they directly attributed to punishing quotas, with Amazon appealing the decision. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating working conditions at Amazon warehouses around the country, as well as a string of deaths at Amazon warehouses this summer.

In a statement, Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said Amazon agrees with the goals of the new law but believes it’s based on a misunderstanding of the company’s policies.

«Amazon does not have fixed quotas at our facilities,» Nantel said. «Instead, we assess performance based on safe and achievable expectations and take into account time and tenure, peer performance, and adherence to safe work practices. While we know we aren’t perfect, we are committed to continuous improvement when it comes to communicating with and listening to our employees and providing them with the resources they need to be successful.»

UPS didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, said in a statement that the union supported the bill because a lack of regulation of warehouse companies left workers vulnerable to injuries.

«Unsafe work speeds, unreasonable work quotas, dangerous work, and insufficient breaks all contribute to the skyrocketing rate of injuries and sickness in the warehousing industry,» Appelbaum said.

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube