Amazon doesn’t cease to surprise. Yesterday, the company announced that it would spend $ half a billion on one-time bonuses for its front-line workers and partners who have been by the company's side throughout the pandemic.
Amazon stated in a blog post that people would receive bonuses between $150 and $3,000. The amounts vary: full-time employees of Amazon, Amazon-Whole Foods, and delivery driver-partners will receive $500; part-time employees or drivers will benefit from $250; Amazon and Whole Foods workers will get $1,000. Delivery service partner owners who made the deliveries possible will get $3,000. Amazon Flex drivers would get $150 if they worked more than 10 hours in June. The bonus comes after the company eliminated the $2 hourly wage bump, and at the end of May, it doubled the overtime pay for front-line workers.
But not only good news surround Amazon. The world's largest retailer is facing scrutiny from the US lawmakers and unions regarding the measures that have been taken against COVID-19.
Only yesterday, workers at six Amazon sites in Germany went on strike over safety after some staff has been tested positive for Coronavirus.
In the US, it is facing a lawsuit over the alleged lack of protection at a Staten Island facility. As a response, Amazon took steps in preventing the spread by changing more than 150 operation processes. Moreover, it spent more than $600 million on Coronavirus related-costs according to the latest financial report. For the second quarter, the cost could go as high as $4 billion.
At closing time yesterday, the stock traded 0.46% lower, but during today's pre-market session, the price is up by 0.36%.
Sources: edition.cnn.com, reuters.com
