- Amazon contracts delivery drivers through smaller local companies.
- The companies provides the companies with a set of rules for the drivers that include grooming stipulations, Bloomberg reported.
- In the past, Amazon has been criticized for its in-car monitoring equipment for delivery drivers.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
Amazon work rules regulate delivery drivers' personal grooming and social media habits, according to a recent report from Bloomberg on Wednesday.
The company dictates specifics, including body odor and the appearance of fingernails and hair, to social media posts, Bloomberg found in an updated version of the company's policies that govern small delivery companies.
While the company's delivery drivers wear an Amazon logo, many are actually employed by small independent businesses that Amazon calls Delivery Service Partners.
According to Bloomberg, the contracts between the small companies and the e-commerce giant can change at any time based on Amazon's needs.
"Personal grooming must be maintained at an acceptable level, including but not limited to prevention of unpleasant breath or body odor, modest perfume/cologne, and clean teeth, face/ears, fingernails and hair," the policy states.
Drivers are also required to avoid posting anything on social media that Amazon would deem "obscene."
Amazon did not comment on the grooming and social media standards it maintains for its driver, but a spokesperson told Insider that its partnerships with local small businesses are well suited to its business goals - and help the smaller companies thrive, too.
"The suggestion that Amazon is seeking to avoid responsibility for delivery drivers is wrong," an Amazon spokesperson told Insider. "The biggest challenge in developing a driver network is building great teams who understand their communities, and we think local small business owners do that best-they tap into their community to hire and develop great drivers, while the DSP program supports them with logistics experience, technology, and a suite of exclusive services that help their business thrive."
Amazon's business model is not unlike many other US companies that use independent contract workers and staffing companies. McDonald's and FedEx also use a similar staffing process.
Outside of grooming stipulations, the policy stipulates that drivers can be drug tested at any time. Amazon also approves training programs for the drivers, Bloomberg reported.
The conditions Amazon delivery drivers work under have captured public attention in the past. An Insider report found that Amazon drivers are often forced to pee in bottles as their schedules do not allow time for bathroom breaks.
The company has also come under fire due to its policies for monitoring delivery drivers on the job. In February, Insider reported Amazon was equipping all delivery vehicles with AI camera systems called Driveri. The cameras are always on and scan drivers' body language, the speed of the vehicle, and even drowsiness. The system then uses "automated verbal alerts" to tell drivers if a violation has been detected.