It depends on the state and the judge. If you're in a state that enforces them, and the judge agrees, you're under that contract.
The biggest problem is that it only matters that the workers think it's a valid contract. If workers won't apply to jobs that they think violates what they think is a valid contract, Amazon wins. Most people taking these jobs don't have a great education, and probably can't afford a lawyer. If you can't afford to lose severance and can't afford a lawyer, you're stuck. Most low wage employers count on this. The chances that someone can win against a very large company in court are small. They get even smaller when the person who is supposed to be suing can't afford days off work or a lawyer. It's money ball, they win because they've fixed the conditions so the other person can't really afford to challenge them in court. 3 years of taking time off of work is impossible for a hourly worker, they'll lose their new job fighting their last employers. Plus legal fees. Not gonna happen.
It depends on the state and the judge. If you're in a state that enforces them, and the judge agrees, you're under that contract.
The biggest problem is that it only matters that the workers think it's a valid contract. If workers won't apply to jobs that they think violates what they think is a valid contract, Amazon wins. Most people taking these jobs don't have a great education, and probably can't afford a lawyer. If you can't afford to lose severance and can't afford a lawyer, you're stuck. Most low wage employers count on this. The chances that someone can win against a very large company in court are small. They get even smaller when the person who is supposed to be suing can't afford days off work or a lawyer. It's money ball, they win because they've fixed the conditions so the other person can't really afford to challenge them in court. 3 years of taking time off of work is impossible for a hourly worker, they'll lose their new job fighting their last employers. Plus legal fees. Not gonna happen.