Amazon Looks To Hire 100,000 Employees Over Coronavirus Demand
Today (Mar 16), Amazon stated that they’re looking to hire 100,000 people across the US to keep up with a surge in demand due to the spread of the coronavirus.
In addition, for all hourly employees working at warehouses, delivery centers and Whole Foods grocery stores in the US & Canada, the online retailer is planning to temporarily increase pay by $2 an hour through the end of April. The current pay is $15 per hour.
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Amazon’s SVP of Worldwide Operations Dave Clark says, “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Amazon and our network of partners are helping communities around the world in a way that very few can—delivering critical supplies directly to the doorsteps of people who need them. Getting a priority item to your doorstep is vital as communities practice social-distancing, particularly for the elderly and others with underlying health issues. We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year.”
A week prior, the company notified employees about compensation during the the crisis; stating that any employee diagnosed with COVID-19 will have up to two weeks pay, along with access to an established relief fund of $25 million to help its independent delivery service partners and drivers.
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Additionally, for those interested in positions available, the Seattle-based company says there are a mix of full-time and part-time jobs available, including delivery drivers, warehouse workers and more.