Amazon said it will double the overtime pay for warehouse workers as the coronavirus pandemic has increased demand for online orders, the company announced Saturday.
Hourly workers in Amazon’s U.S. warehouses who work over 40 hours will receive double, instead of 1.5-times, pay between March 15 and May 9, according to an announcement obtained by Reuters.
“My own time and thinking is now wholly focused on COVID-19 and on how Amazon can best play its role,” Jeff Bezos
Jeffrey (Jeff) Preston BezosHillicon Valley: Senators press Amazon over workplace safety amid outbreak | Lyft expands to deliveries | Dems seek election security funds in stimulus package Senators press Amazon on workplace safety amid coronavirus spread Hillicon Valley: Google delays launch of national coronavirus website | Hackers target health-care groups amid outbreak | Officials, tech in talks on using location data to track coronavirus MORE said in an online announcement.
Bezos also said Amazon has ordered “millions” of face masks for its staff. But because of their short supply, masks are going to “highest-need facilities” like hospitals as directed by the government.
“When our turn for masks comes, our first priority will be getting them in the hands of our employees and partners working to get essential products to people,” he said
The company announced a pay increase less than a week ago for hourly associates from $15 an hour to $17. It also said it will hire 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers in the U.S. as many practice social distancing by staying in their homes.
Amazon has also implemented unlimited unpaid time off designed for employees who fall ill during the pandemic. The first warehouse employee in the U.S. tested positive for COVID-19, leading for the entire facility to be shut down in New York.
Sens. Cory Booker
Cory Anthony BookerDemocrats grow nervous over primary delays Changing antitrust rules will cause confusion Hillicon Valley: Senators press Amazon over workplace safety amid outbreak | Lyft expands to deliveries | Dems seek election security funds in stimulus package MORE (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersDemocrats grow nervous over primary delays Obama ebola czar hits Trump virus response in Biden campaign video House Democratic campaign arm outraises GOP counterpart in February MORE (I-Vt.), Bob Menendez
Robert (Bob) MenendezHillicon Valley: Facebook launches portal for coronavirus information | EU sees spike in Russian misinformation on outbreak | Senate Dem bill would encourage mail-in voting | Lawmakers question safety of Google virus website Democratic senators press Google over privacy of coronavirus screening site Menendez calls for ‘Marie Yovanovitch bill’ to protect foreign service employees MORE (D-N.J.) and Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Campbell BrownDemocrats grow nervous over primary delays Hillicon Valley: Senators press Amazon over workplace safety amid outbreak | Lyft expands to deliveries | Dems seek election security funds in stimulus package The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden moves to unify party before general election MORE (D-Ohio) sent a letter to Bezos on Friday, warning the company has not done enough to protect its workers during the pandemic.
Menendez reportedly praised the double overtime pay initiative but said the company needed to do more, according to Reuters.
