Amazon to pay $ 500 million in bonuses to workers most exposed to coronavirus

Amazon said Monday that it is paying $ 500 million in one-time bonuses to front-line employees, who are most at risk of contracting coronavirus – who worked for the company until June.

The move is an apparent reversal for the company after weeks of criticism for reducing its payment for coronavirus risk even when the pandemic has continued. Amazon had removed its $ 2 per hour risk payment for workers in early June, after instituting the highest wages in mid-March. That increased risk payment had already cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Our front-line operations teams have been on an incredible journey in the past few months, and we want to show our appreciation with a special thank-you bonus,” wrote Dave Clark, the company’s senior vice president of operations worldwide. note for workers on Monday.

Full-time Amazon workers, Whole Foods employees, and delivery service partner drivers will receive $ 500, while their part-time counterparts will receive $ 250. Amazon and Whole Foods employees in leadership positions will receive $ 1,000, Delivery Service Partner owners will receive $ 3,000, and Amazon Flex drivers who worked more than 10 hours in June will receive $ 150 each.

The pandemic has mistrust created among Amazon’s workforce, with some protesting the e-commerce giant’s health and safety response to the virus. Workers and 13 state attorneys general have asked Amazon to release more detailed information in cases of coronavirus and deaths among its employees.

In early May, Amazon also removed a popular coronavirus program that allowed workers to take unlimited time off, which has become another sticking point between Amazon’s management and employees.

The company has instituted a variety of safety measures to protect warehouse employees, including providing masks and disinfectants and doing temperature controls.

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