Amazon is Hiring Additional 75,000 Workers to Meet Pandemic Demand
Amazon.com Inc said on Monday it would hire 75,000 more people for jobs ranging from warehouse staff to delivery drivers as the coronavirus epidemic keeps consumers locked in their homes and demand for online orders surge.
On March 16, Amazon announced it would invest over $350 million globally to increase pay for the company's teams during the coronavirus pandemic and would hire an additional 100,000 people in full and part-time jobs across its operations network to keep as many people as possible working during this crisis.
Amazon said on Monday that the original 100,000 jobs pledge is filled and those new employees are working at sites across the U.S. The company is going to continue to hire an additional 75,000 workers, so interested candidates can apply at www.amazon.com/jobsnow.
"We know many people have been economically impacted as jobs in areas like hospitality, restaurants and travel are lost or furloughed as part of this crisis and we welcome anyone out of work to join us at Amazon until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back," the company said in a blog post.
The hiring spree and a temporary $2-an-hour wage boost will likely cost more than $500 million, up from a prior estimate of $350 million, the company said.
Amazon has kept its doors open as state-mandated closures of non-essential businesses shutter specialty physical retail storefronts across the U.S. and Europe.
Amazon also says it has rolled out more intense cleaning and hygiene measures at its facilities, including temperature screenings and reorganized break rooms to encourage social distancing. Still, workers at Amazon warehouses in New York, Michigan and Illinois have staged walkouts demanding the company close their facilities for extended cleaning.
Amazon.com has also started to slowly increase the assortment of products that can be shipped to its warehouses this week, easing restrictions instituted in March that prioritized essential goods such as medical supplies, groceries and pet food amid the pandemic.
“Later this week, we will allow more products into our fulfillment centers,” Amazon said. “Products will be limited by quantity to enable us to continue prioritizing products and protecting employees, while also ensuring most selling partners can ship goods into our facilities.”