Amazon expands workforce to deal with order demands

Amazon is ramping up hiring to keep up with increased shopper demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It also is temporarily increasing hourly workers’ compensation.  

“We are opening 100,000 new full- and part-time positions across the U.S. in our fulfillment centers and delivery network to meet the surge in demand from people relying on Amazon’s service during this stressful time, particularly those most vulnerable to being out in public,” Dave Clark, senior VP, worldwide operations, Amazon, wrote in a blog on the company’s website.

In addition to the new jobs, Amazon is temporarily increasing its pay “to recognize our employees who are playing an essential role for people at a time when many of the services that might normally be there to support them are closed.”
 
In the U.S., Amazon is temporarily increasing the compensation for hourly employees across the U.S., Europe, and Canada. In the U.S., it is adding additional $2 an hour worked through April from its current rate of $15 an hour or more, depending on the region, along with £2 per hour in the U.K., and approximately €2 per hour in many European countries. The company said the increased represents an investment of over $350 million in increased compensation for hourly employees across the U.S., Europe and Canada.

“Health and safety are a top priority with all of our roles and sites,” stated Clark. “We continue to consult with medical and health experts, and take all recommended precautions in our buildings and stores to keep people healthy. We’ve taken measures to promote social distancing in the workplace and taken on enhanced and frequent cleaning, to name just a few.”