Quandary, its January twenty twenty, Amazon, retail employees at his computer, studying purchasing transit headquarters in Seattle suddenly and alert pops up on a screen. That's weird his colleague sitting next to it leans over to peek at his screen. What's up, the algorithm, its picking up a spike in searches for face, masks, enhance entities you this algorithm is like the beating heart of Amazon, if there's an optical demand on anything, it'll show up here and right now the spine in demand for masks, toilet paper insanities. Her is signalling a coming heart attack You think people are getting all worked up about that virus in China could be haven't followed that closely, but if people are

king for these supplies, then their worried. You think it's really gonna be that big a deal her worker nods. Theirs, in chatter of a pandemic. Ever since the new corona virus was reported and we're on China, but there are only few cases in the? U S right now to the employees, This seems like an overreaction, still, We should probably check to see if there's a policy on what to do if a pandemic hit. The two colleagues search through Amazon's emergency response procedures. I'm seeing local fires, floods earth wakes hey check this out you know that all the top execs carry satellite bones to keep operations going at the cell networks, go down, but nothing bout, a pandemic seriously, nothing his stomach sinks has a bad feeling about. This is key.

It looks at him slightly scared, look on her face. I can't leave this as bad it looks now. They haven't no idea how ugly it will get this pandemic will. We develop into an event that seems both right out of the history books and futuristic horror movie neither Walmart nor Amazon planned for this pandemic and because of that, there will be chaos at this epoch moment that will frustrate customers and infuriate workers making both companies the target of America's fee. Sphere and anger, capital, one has a fresh take on board now you can open a new savings account in about five minutes and earn five times the national average

begging with capital. One means five times the savings toward your dream, honeymoon or five times the savings toward your family's ultimate vacation even five times the savings toward just feeling good. Saving. It's time to make your savings goals come true. This is banking, re imagined. What's in your wallet capital one in a member. After I see from wondering I'm David Brown- and this is business wars. On our last episode. Amazon moved big into fresh food purchasing the oars

and a grocery store chain whole foods. It was rough start but Amazon offered incentives that brought in more customers growth These were always the bait to draw shoppers into Walmart, so they by other merchandise, once in the store now Walmart wants to merge its online and offline business by customers to order online and then pick merchandise in person? Twenty twenty begins. Business is good for both companies, but up virus in China will take. Route in the United States faster than the public realises and once the Catches on panic will spread and went back bunch Amazon in Walmart infrastructure and supply chains will or go. The ultimate stress test one that will lay bare both their strengths and vulnerabilities and have star

implications for their future. This is episode. Six, the stealth enemy its January, twenty nine in Walmart roads out its first ever Superbowl man shot full of pop culture. Reference he's from toys story to bill into excellent adventure. It from the stores online order and grocery pick up service as the wave of the future at this particular moment in the country. Thing seems amid the future. Yes present, future years, your order bills. I am quite aware we are lost and for a few brief shining weeks early in the new year Walmart Future looks bright so do thanks for Amazon, but

11Th two, twenty twenty, the anchor for Fox NEWS breaks, the normal broadcast to read them. Thing from her phoned the audience. The expression on her face. He's conveys. The seriousness of the moment are rightly a break. News now, let's see what it has to do with covered. Nineteen and the World Health Organization has just declared a global court corona virus. It is a pandemic at this point, eyes efforts to control by the time the World Health Organization makes this call the city we harness under total lockdown ITALY Healthcare system is crumbling under the onslaught of new cases. It's been over one hundred years since the world is based a pandemic of this scale. On March, fifteenth cattle when you governor, Gavin Newsome, imposes social distancing and urges people stay home as much as possible. Soon. Other governors will follow suit, while scientists Federal officials in governor Squabble over how to respond you

consumers know exactly what to do. They go shopping, but in some places that's becoming a contact event. In Burbank California, a woman named Jane, is shopping at the Walmart supersonic. It's one o clock the afternoon on a week day, but the stores pact, people are grabbing whatever food they can, but the real action is in the aisles stocking hand, sanitize her toilet paper and paper towels the eye jammed and people's carts, occasionally bang into each other. Like bumper cars offers not each other aside, get supplies sniping those who seem to be holding the check Outlines or running twenty people deep, each their baskets heaped with goods the car in baskets run out so Jane their food in our own reusable bags issue weaves through the crowd she made a list, but she yields anxiety, rising ass. She watches

customers, clearing, shells in front of her workers, block and I'll to restock. This makes custom angry he's unpacking lysol down there. I need that you gonna, let us, through the crowd, searches for workers, hold on hold on back. Are you have to let us restart We'll let you in as s letters J Watch was in shock, is desperate. Customers which passed It feels like she's in a zombie James Huh Denny comes around the corner, carrying two jars of spaghetti sauce was a battle but you're hero, his return, triumphant, I have no idea what brand they are just grab. The first two I could we're locked. And tall adjust reach right over the woman in front of me, I was so Do we need frozen vegetables? I'd want to be there idiot the dies of scurvy in quarantine. They had to the frozen food. I'll He reaches into the case and pulls out the few remaining packages.

Pearl, onions in Lima beans. Guess we know what Vegetables, people don't want even in a pandemic. Said Jane and realizes she's, not enjoying his banter. In fact, she looks like he's going to cry baby It's gonna be ok, go home and order anything we couldn't get here on Amazon a woman standing near by overhears him. Good luck with that. I tried water, groceries problem in half of what I wanted was out of stock and nothing could be delivered until next week and hands and a tighter was going for several hundred dollars, the unfair it ended surge in buying it, both Amazon in Walmart, snaps, the companies carefully calibrated just in time supply chain is designed. Cut down on warehouse costs by stocking just what customers are buying, but Sir fields are soaring by thirty five percent at Amazon and too percent Walmart in on groceries it both companies are booming, but the system groaning under the demand:

MSNBC announces Amazon is forced to take drastic action to keep up and store. Shells have led to a massive surge in Amazon orders for grocery items. Cleaning products in basic staples to keep the company announced it is hiring one hundred thousand new distribution workers Amazon. Temporarily closing a New York delivery station have to one of its workers, tested positive for the virus. This goes against everything we ve ever tried to do, but I dont see another way its march. Twenty twenty, Amazon's executives are having an all hands on deck meeting their way Houses are overwhelmed. Worker are calling in sick or refusing to come because they're afraid of getting the virus waiting. DE prioritize, anything that is an essential item: food cleaning supplies, health products, I agree, but if we start limiting what we ship, that leave other businesses to fill our boy there in a quandary

not only do they have to hire more workers fast, but if they focus on waste, Fucking a shipping essentials they'll have to do Bert Resources away from other products- and that means Amazon, will fail to deliver on their promise of one day shipping for prime members, which is key to their success. It's just temporary we'll get back on track? What have we can't people the essentials in a timely manner, they're gonna, counselor, prime memberships and go elsewhere, and once establish that have it all right, all right, let's announce it, we're not making non essential shipments right now. Faced with its big. This test, yet Amazon is showing signs of strain, in Walmart is not very much better. Walmart has sixteen stores in we're on China and though they should have been ahead of the curve Walmart still caught flat footed in the. U S like Amazon

They don't have a disaster plan for dealing with the strain on the supply chain or on their workers. Its March twenty third, twenty twenty and wonder, Evans is working as usual. Overnight shifted the evergreen park. Walmart Super centre outside Chicago fifty one years old and he's been with Walmart for fifteen years. Evans is a good worker, but tonight is dragging his head. Hurts these exhausted. His chest feels tight when he takes a deep breath. Knows he looks ill. He had expected that his boss would send him home when he showed up, but his manager just look. The other way he's never done this before, but to cut a ship short. He finds a supervisor, Hey man I'm not feeling well to go home.

We're slammed. I really need you to stick it out, Evans, too, the deep breath. Wincing is his lungs titan I really don't think I can bear all right, right. Do what you gonna. Do Evans, nods and heads back to clock out and other employ you standing near, buys overheard the exchange. She approaches supervisor. Is he sick, we don't know could weaken some gloves or masks? Then you know just in case. I could, but we don't have any more. Not yet Forty eight hours later Evans will be found dead in his home from covered nineteen. Four days later, a second worker from the same Walmart, also dies from the virus.

Amazon is also having trouble adequately protecting its workers and is facing a backlash. Its March twenty fifth, twenty twenty in Staten Island, New York and Christian smiles is on a mission After working in Amazon warehouses for years he's outraged by their handling of the corona virus, last night, a colleague posted that there was a confirmed case of covert nineteen at his facility, known as J F K aid. Today? The warehouse is still open and little has changed. The intergroup of his co workers have had enough. They marched straight Managements office is not the first, Small has been in this office begging for his supervisors to do more, to protect the workers, stymies there with a group managers are in a meeting they look up. In surprise, small bursts in a cadre of workers behind it.

Christian we're in the middle of something we can schedule a time. If you want to come back and chat, know we're doing this now, how many cases of covert nineteen are there in this facility? No, I know there is at least one and I sent barber home yesterday because she looks severely ill. So how many more? Are there now wait a minute when we have confirmation of cases we will end on people who have had contact with the infected person. Okay, we can do more than that without jeopardizing the privacy of our workers, and other workers speaks up behind Chris What about jeopardizing our safety? The same our families you're putting risk, so the company can make an extra dollar look. This is complicated. Not only do we have to look after the workforce but provide the country with critical infrastructure to supply the problem. We have to be in business. We have to operate and you're following CDC guidelines? Okay, we separated tables in the bridegroom wearing reducing social distancing, that's great or what

we're on the floor. We working shoulder to shoulder man. We're sharing equipment, their confer Cases in this building you need to shut it down a clean it up and figure out ways to keep us safe. That's not our call. It's up to head. As if we shut down. Besides we raise we providing sick leave. If you get diagnose too, have to quarantine we're doing the best we can small shakes his head furious that's not good enough smaller in his the workers, leave the room, frustrating for the as to the weak small returns to the building every day, but he doesn't clock in instead, He spent his time talking. Workers and pressuring managed They give us two weeks paid time off if we test positive, but they lead the way. Please come in while they're waiting for their test results. That's crazy! On A supervisor reproaches small Chris can I have a word. Smaller gets up and

The supervisor the corner of the room away from the other workers. The supervisor clears his throat We ve been informed that a person you work with on March Twenty fourth, his taste, positive for coping nineteen you need to immediately leave the building in quarantine yourself, smiles mediately knows who she's talking about on March. Twenty where's. He told a fellow assistant manager, Barber Chandler, that she was ill and she go home. He also know she interacted with dozens of other people. Looks around. He see some of them working on the floor. What about all the other people she worked with, you'd think of about forty people who should be in quarantine right now. You send them home to we're analyzing the videos of the day in question for whom she came in contact with and for how long. We will Take further actions based on what we see smiles, and

birds that to mean no. He shakes his head frustrated this is retaliation He leaves the building angrily Amazon may be trying to shut him up, but small isn't going to sit back and take it. He Amazon to hurt and he Was just how to make that happen? We get support from net sweet by Oracle, the world's number one cloud business system nets. We gives you the kind of visibility and control you need when it comes to your business. Now. More than ever with, so many decisions to make. You need the right numbers and you need them right now and that's where nets we can help you seat with nets. We? U get finance the cash flow payroll inventory and more all in one place. So you have clear visibility. Total control of your business nets. We customers

Flexibility toward from anywhere with a meter clarity on critical information right at their fingertips. That means no guessing no more waiting and making. Smarter decisions with confidence, because you got Crystal clear visit: Nobody into your numbers joined the over twenty thousand companies who trust nets wheat to stay in control, get your free guide, managing business uncertainty and schedule your free product tour right now at net, sweet dot, com, slash wars, that's a free guide and schedule your free product, tour at net, sweet dot, com, slash wars, net, sweet dot, com, slash wars, hey Madame Grant, I'm an organizational psychologist and the host of work life, a podcast from TED as the world has changed dramatically in recent weeks. Our jobs have changed too. If you looking to explore the science of making work, not suck in these trying times check out work, life,

This is in your learn: how to procrastinate less, how to negotiate more effectively and how to fight loneliness at work. Listen, a work life without em grant. Wherever you get your podcast. its new on March, thirty of twenty twenty and dozens of workers. A J F K, a Christian smiles warehouse facility on Staten Island of just walked off the job They wear masks over their faces and hold up signs. One says Alexa senders, home and other says it's difficult to closer this for three to four weeks, but it's more differ to close a casket of a loved one for an entire life.

Small meets him outside careful to maintain a distance of sixty one of the poor gestures, hands out a statement to a group of reporters. People are losing their lives to this pandemic and Amazon is not taking it seriously. Whose lives are on the line. The next workers at a warehouse facility outside Detroit walk off the job at home. Employees are angry that their being told not to wear masks because it says: customers over. Employees across the country. Stages sick out, Amazon needs to find a way to answer their employees demands a J F K, the top Amazon executives you're having their daily meeting their fine the offering sickly for warehouse workers, but it's not enough. They fired Chris,

in small arguing that he had violated quarantine, but the press politicians are not buying it. US lessons. As the team discusses we Their response, our usual focus on how our protecting workers is not cutting it David's policy. The companies General council leaned forward. He has idea. I say we make this christian smiles guy the face of the whole union Zation movement, he's, not smart he's not circulate. We can use them to discredit the whole movement. You know push hard on the fact that his violation of quarantine was immoral, unacceptable and arguably illegal, and we push on how we are protecting workers. It's an agree. Substantial, but events delay the room is swayed, buys a policy Are we in agreement on that great switch over to discussing some different in bold ways? We can give away our stockpile of masks. What will you

the biggest pr win forests. Anyone as news of the companies were spots, makes its weight a lower level executives and internal. Backlash. Bruise support, he's memo gets leaked to the press and hundreds of white collar workers sign a petition demanding the company provide more protection to its warehouse. Workers senator share at Brown of Ohio and Corey Booker New Jersey, among others, call for an end. To into the firing works attorney general. Buys Amazon that its of small May violated the states whistle blower laws its April. Second, twenty twenty. Antonia Evans, Window Evans. Brother is. Leaving yet another message for windows manager at the Walmart Super Centre in Evergreen Part fifteen. Miles south of Chicago, This is Tony Evans. Again, if you could, please call me

I'm really hoping Walmart could help cover the burial costs for my brother Wando I know there is an emergency relief fund for workers and you can help me get access to that I really want to give my brother a proper burial. Please he hangs up the phone. This is his faith. Message Tony's furious his brother work for Walmart for fifteen years. He deserved better from Walmart frustrated. He takes a friend updating in that Walmart still hasn't responded to any of his cause. He doesn't know what to do moments later. His friend calls him back. He doesn't waste time with chit chat. I think you should soon for for what wrongful death that's what they share protected him. I know a lawyer. One April. Six Tony Evans piled suit against Walmart for failing to take precautions to bridge

His brother and its other employees by really teeth Teen Walmart workers have died from the virus and near Two thousand workers have tested positive for it. Tempers of its workforce is taking advance. Of the company's newly policy which allows employees to take time off if they dont feel comfortable working. The company is struck To staff, their stores and warehouses aiming to hire five thousand people a day, but there's still having difficulty meeting, demand and customers are starting to look elsewhere, its April nineteenth, when twenty and Jane has just found the mother lode, the news of Illness is kept her from going back to Walmart and she gave up on Amazon when a delivery they promise never came. She started to get creative where she shot

her husband, Denny. Here's her excited yelp income scampering into the living room. You found flower ass in a bunch of other food. We need and more it down. The block still has a lot of inventory. They dont have online ordering set up, but I'm texting our list to the owner. He'll call if he doesn't have something go over possible substitute he'll text when it's and we can drive over and he'll put it right in our truck That's great what personal service ride I feel bad, we never went there before the prices are a little higher than we usually pay. It is worth it totally worth it. Other businesses are also coming back from the dead, including one that was businesses bury very first target, booksellers before the pandemic, bookshop dot, Org and Simon Schuster partner to compete with Amazon. Revenues have soared, since Americans were forced to stay home from it. Two thousand dollars in January to four point: five:

billion dollars in March. Amazon in Walmart change the world, with our focus on convenience and low costs, and there did. Infrastructure was crucial as milk of Americans were forced to stay home, as She faces an unprecedented crisis. It's hard to know how customers will respond. What new habits will stick? We'll Amazon and Walmart treatment of their workers come back to haunt them or the I may be so devastated the Amazon in Walmart end up controlling and even higher percentage of retail than they already do. There are still battles to fight, convey. Hence will always dr sales in Amazon and Walmart will continue to try to make shopping is convenient as possible. Both companies have been. They are experimenting with using drones to deliver packages- they ve started to roll out services where delivery workers can interact customers house when no one is home to place gross is directly into the fridge.

Four winds. These races we'll have a distinct advantage. As America recovers from wondering this is business. Wars I hope you enjoy this series and we invite you to subscribe on Apple pie, Cast Spotify Google Pie cast, did your eye heart radio or wherever you listening right down, you'll, find a link on the episode NUTS just tap or swipe covered. The also see some offers more sponsors, and we hope you support our show by supporting them. If you like what you ve been listening to, we love it. Give us a five star rating until your friends how to subscribe. Another way to support as this by answering a short survey, wondering dot com, slash survey and overnight tell us what business war stories you'd like to hear. Next, a quick note but the conversations in this episode. We can't know exactly what was said at the time that this dialogue is based on our best research. I'm your home,

David Brown, Austin, reckless, wrote the story. Karen low is our senior producer and editor produced by Emily Cross Sound design by Kyle Randall. Our executive producers are Jenny, Lauer, Beckmann and martial blooey, created by or Non Lopez wondering hey everybody, I'm Patrick Wyman. The host of wondering show tides of history. Tides of history takes you deep into the roots of our present day world and brings you the lived experiences of people in the past and our latest episodes we ve been talking about. The holy roman emperor,

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