Cyber Monday Started Much Earlier This Year

Hey y’all, it’s Austin. Today is Cyber Monday, but if you’re looking to get a jump on holiday shopping, you’re too late. Many retailers started their online deals long before Black Friday. Some, like Amazon.com Inc., Best Buy Co. and Target Corp., even rolled out discounts last month. For the vulnerable workforce plucking products off warehouses shelves, this is a good thing.

Workers for Amazon and Walmart Inc. are bracing for an onslaught of purchases during a holiday season expected to generate $189 billion in U.S. sales online. In the age of Covid-19, the risks extend beyond overwork and exhaustion. Americans’ need for near-instant shopping gratification is, for warehouses, a potential super-spreader event.