One could make criticisms of Amuse as a workplace before the takeover by Flower Co in February, but since then the company quickly transitioned into a soulless, unforgiving, corporate hellhole. Schedules were always made up each week, but with some deference to the driver's preferences. The new model requires that the schedules are made based solely on the needs of the business, so that a person who had previously been able to carve out a niche working late mornings, nights, etc, based on their other obligations, was now expected to be available from 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM, seven days a week, only to learn their schedule on the Friday before. This included being scheduled to end work on 10:30 PM and start again at 9:00 AM the following day, if the company demanded. When Flower Co took over, our hours were immediately cut drastically, and still we would be sent home for lack of orders. We were told that the company were doing "promotions" which would eventually boost sales, but until then, our wages would be a cushion for the company's growing pains. I cannot overemphasize the change in workplace culture since the takeover. After an initial mass-firing (which this reviewer survived), the remaining drivers were beholden to a new, draconian points system which penalized the drivers for infractions which were previously erased by a simple message to the manager. Deliveries are now (unrealistically) scheduled to the minute, and the atmosphere at the depot is one of general anxiety. As a driver I was working harder for less money, with a level of tension and general unpleasantness which didn't exist previously at the depot.
