Amazon's Mental Health 'AmaZen' Booth Deemed More Dystopian Than Helpful

Amazon is under fire after showing off a phone booth-sized wellness zone for its employees, where they can practice meditation and engage in other mental-health exercises.

The « AmaZen » mindful room video has been deleted. But I recorded it because it’s awesome. pic.twitter.com/hYRNR8S1dX

— Daniel Zamora Vargas (@DanielZamoraV) May 28, 2021

The company has been the target of memers and critics recently, as scrutiny on the strict rules they place on employees, infamously causing at least one to pee in a water bottle, has intensified. The company has tried numerous methods to improve its image in the eyes of the public (some more dubious than others), and recently, it introduced a mental health program called WorkingWell for its employees. Part of that initiative was the "AmaZen" box, a small oasis where employees could watch videos about relaxation and look at some plants.

The company proudly tweeted a video about the idea, but it was deleted after it faced too much criticism. Mirrors have been reposted across social media.

While the original video may be gone, the damage had already been done, as jokes and criticisms were once again lobbed Amazon's way for its latest gaffe.

Amazon had a stupid ass idea for a "AmaZen" box where employees can hide out for a few minute and…read mental health tips. The idea was absolutely brain dead and everyone shat on them for it. And now they're deleting the whole announcement. pic.twitter.com/SXdhSLYlYw

— Weaponized Nerd Rage (@WeaponizedRage) May 27, 2021

Having a peaceful break in the mental health closet in the dead center of the factory floor where all my coworkers can visually observe that I'm having a bad mental health day & stare at the lower half of my body through the partially-windowed door https://t.co/gaVUUnZJ6Z

— Jenny Nicholson (@JennyENicholson) May 27, 2021

stressed out at work? just use our new amazen box. pic.twitter.com/oz4C5n284H

— AstroAtze ☭ (@AstroAtze) May 28, 2021

Shout out to @amazon. The AmaZen booth looks so inviting 😍 pic.twitter.com/wkyOZuZYCv

— Joeby Peppers (@L0w_Era) May 28, 2021

I came in the amazen booth

— HE WILL NUT DIVIDE US (@NutDivide) May 27, 2021

Overall, many seemed tired that Amazon went the route of "innovating" a minuscule break room rather than raise employee wages or allow them to unionize.

Or you could pay your employees well, not treat them like garbage, and accept unionization.

But sure, a Futurama suicide booth works too.

— Joe Seatter (@70bpmhiccups) May 27, 2021