Amazon Announces New Prime-Related Perk For Warehouse Workers And Drivers

If you’ve ever stopped to consider what it takes to complete an overnight delivery using Amazon Prime, you probably consider the relentless pace the company’s warehouse staff and delivery drivers are required to keep.

While Amazon has received some criticism over working conditions, the company announced a new slate of employment benefits for these crucial employees.

What’s in the package?

Since warehouse workers and drivers are responsible for fulfilling all those Amazon Prime orders, their employer now says they deserve their own subscription to the service as a fringe benefit.

A statement from Amazon described these employees as “front-line” workers and confirmed that a Prime membership (which costs somewhere around $15 per month or $139 per year) will be free for them for “as long as they are a part of the Amazon team.”

But there’s more than that for Amazon workers to look forward to, including an hourly pay bump of “at least” $1.50 for all of its front-line workers as of next month. The company says this across-the-board raise will bring the average hourly base rate for these employees to more than $22.

New front-line workers will also now be able to waive the 90-day waiting period for participating in language classes the company offers.

Amazon’s sphere of influence

Reaching the $22 per hour threshold is particularly significant for Amazon, which has been behind a major push to make that the industry-wide average. The online retail giant works with a large number of corporate partners, including those responsible for completing deliveries.

Just a few days before announcing its own employee benefits, Amazon confirmed that it had invested more than $2 billion into a program designed to help its delivery partners establish “a national average of nearly $22 per hour.”

Chris Agee September 19th, 2024

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