The world is changing to accommodate families during the spread of coronavirus. As TikTok creators and Airbnb hosts are forced to adjust normal practices (for better or for worse), so are corporate businesses.
And Amazon is the latest to feel the effects of the pandemic.
In a blog post published Monday, Amazon executive Dave Clark announced that the online retailer plans to hire 100,000 new workers. The steep increase in onboarding is to help support Amazon’s warehouse and delivery services.
“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,” Clark said. “We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year.”
In addition to opening full-time and part-time positions, Amazon is increasing its pay through April. Workers will now receive $2 more per hour in the U.S., Europe, and Canada.
“We also 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. We want those people to know we welcome them on our teams until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back.”
Last week, Amazon announced that it would give paid sick leave to employees who contracted coronavirus. They would also create a $25 million Amazon Relief Fund to help support seasonal workers and deliverers.
“We continue to consult with medical and health experts, and take all recommended precautions in our buildings and stores to keep people healthy. We’ve taken measures to promote social distancing in the workplace and taken on enhanced and frequent cleaning, to name just a few,” Clark said.
As more people apply to work at Amazon, Clark assures that health, especially during this time, will remain a priority.
