As most have probably heard about, and many are certainly excited about, Amazon announced a while back that Raleigh is in the running for the illustrious HQ2, a brand-new second headquarters for the multibillion-dollar online shopping juggernaut. Because of this massive announcement, discussion exploded. Tons of North Carolinians began asking and debating topics like “Why would our state be a good fit for HQ2?” or “How could we improve our state to make it more desirable for Amazon?”

All these discussions are totally understandable, and I get why North Carolinians would be thrilled about all the jobs and trade that a powerhouse like Amazon would bring. But I fear that this kind of talk causes us to miss another crucial question: what baggage does the other side carry with it?

I definitely understand that all corporations have some skeletons in their closets, but Amazon would certainly be the most prominent company to come to Raleigh in quite some time. HQ2 could have enough impact to redefine the Raleigh area, and I think it’s important that both parties have some understanding of one another. Recently, Amazon employees have spoken out about their issues with the company, and it’s important that we all consider what these claims could mean for HQ2 in Raleigh.

Some of the horror stories to come out of Amazon are, if true, unsettling. For example, after spending six months undercover in an Amazon warehouse, author James Bloodworth told Business Insider that “the atmosphere is what I imagine a prison feels like. You felt like you were walking on eggshells.”

Bloodworth also claimed that he found containers of urine in the warehouse because of the limited amount of break time. The kinds of images Bloodworth describes raise some concerns about the treatment of employees and the environments they work in.

Bloodworth isn’t the only one to come out with Amazon horror stories. During her time as an order picker, as Nichole Gracely wrote for the Guardian, she “never felt more alone than when I was working there. I worked in isolation and lived under constant surveillance.” She goes on to claim that her homelessness at the time of writing her article was still better than her time at Amazon.

Additionally, throughout the past few years — and especially within the past 12 months — Amazon’s internal practices have come under scrutiny. Both former and current employees have voiced their dissatisfaction towards the business practices and dealings that Amazon have taken part in.

As Digital Trends reported, Amazon employees are voicing their fears about Amazon’s contract to produce its facial recognition software for law enforcement, and their dealings with Palantir, a data firm which, as Bloomberg reported, previously provided software to JPMorgan to closely surveil their employees.

I fear that happily accepting HQ2 without deep consideration could bring some harsh consequences to our state. For starters, it could create the appearance that North Carolina is willing to overlook these serious allegations. It could even look like a willingness to participate.

This kind of image is the furthest thing from what North Carolina should actually want. We should try to foster a statewide work environment that promotes healthy work conditions and passionate effort by those involved.

Furthermore, if these allegations are accurate, North Carolina should not become the hub of that kind of behavior. MWPVL International says that the state already hosts three Amazon distribution centers – in Charlotte, Concord and Durham. I would like to see their work environment thoroughly inspected. However, if HQ2 comes to Raleigh, that could mean that these kinds of controversial decisions previously discussed could be coming out of our local area, meaning that Raleigh could get wrapped up in that controversy too.

With this topic, it’s almost impossible to completely take one side of the argument or the other. On one hand, these allegations are severe, and I don’t want my state getting wrapped up in the internal issues of tech giants. On the other hand, the potential growth this could bring not just Raleigh, but all of North Carolina, is staggering. My dream is that with HQ2, no matter what city gets it, comes a new direction by Amazon to sort out any potential internal issues and promote fair treatment of its employees.