Amazon announces additional 75,000 jobs as online orders increase due to lockdowns

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Amazon announced Monday it is hiring 75,000 additional workers after recently hiring 100,000 new full- and part-time positions throughout the country to keep up with the demand for online orders.
• The e-commerce giant plans to add more workers at its fulfillment centers and across its delivery network.
• Recently, Amazon announced it would add $2 an hour for hourly employees at its warehouses, delivery centers and Whole Foods grocery stores.

On Monday, Amazon announced that it would add 75,000 more jobs as demand for online orders surge. The e-commerce company will offer jobs that range from warehouse staff to delivery drivers as the coronavirus pandemic keeps Americans in lockdown.

Shoppers continue to clear shelves in fear that quarantines will go for a long time. People also fear there will be product shortages, that’s why companies are ensuring food and health products are in stock and employees on hand for both in-store work or delivery.

Amazon has already reported COVID-19 positive cases among its warehouse staff, faced several demonstrations, with some elected officials calling on the company to close its warehouses.

It ensures that it would implement temperature checks and provide face masks for staff at all of its warehouses in the U.S. and Europe.

As the unemployment rates hit record levels, Amazon seeks to fill the gap. Amazon’s strategy to attract new employees includes adding $2 to its minimum $15 per hour workers’ wages through April.

ON Monday, Amazon said it had filled all of the 100,000 positions it previously advertised, and the 75,000 new jobs are in addition to that.

The company is expecting to spend over $500 million worldwide to increase wages for staff during the coronavirus crisis, up from a recent estimate of $350 million.

“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,” Amazon wrote in a blog post.

The company’s workforce fluctuates seasonally, recently peaking for the holiday quarter at 798,000 full and part-time workers, before it advertised the 100,000 jobs following the pandemic, according to Reuters.

Source: AOL