Amazon hiring 75,000 new workers at $17 an hour, with $1000 signing bonus

[Johnny2X2X]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-hiring-75000-workers-offers-17-per-hour-142506984.html

They hired 400,000 last year with increased demand. You want to know why restaurants are having trouble finding workers, here's one reason.

I've done warehouse work, it's not great work, but $17 an hour is nothing to sneeze at and it's an honest living with some benefits and opportunity. I have FB friends who've gone from restaurant work to Amazon work in the last couple years, it's steadier and gives them OT opportunities and a chance to make a life. They're also offering a $100 bonus for vaccinated hires.

Bezos's excesses get threads here, but he employs 1 Million Americans now and they've done a lot in terms of pay to not deserve to be lumped in with Walmart anymore. Amazon is providing a path to the middle class for a lot of families and I think they're going to continue increasing pay.

Here in MI, several restaurants have started paying more.
https://www.woodtv.com/news/allegan-county/restaurant-owner-industry-moving-forward-with-increased-benefits/

Also, I know the owner of a Raman shop in Detroit, Ima Noodles, who kept his workers health care going through the whole pandemic and pays fair wages.

There are good restaurant owners out there. They're going to be setting the baseline for wages and benefits.

[jimfields33]

1. Quite a few companies are paying at least 15 now.

It’s the mom and pops that haven’t yet for varied reasons.

[Johnny2X2X]

3. They're going to have to figure it out

Look, I get it , these small places don't want to pay living wages, and there are some that just won't make it if they're forced to pay fair wages. But I believe those are outnumbered by the small businesses whose owners think they can become rich by exploiting their workers. Restaurant work is rife with that type of thing. Hours that are unsteady, cutting people if it's slow, no time off, no hint of benefits. Why put up with it when most towns now have an Amazon warehouse where you can go make more money, get guaranteed 40+ hours, and have some level of benefits.

If I was a 20 something without my education, zero doubt I'd pick warehouse work over restaurant work right now.

[jimfields33]

5. I often wonder about workers in mom and pop places

They don’t get decent pay and the tips are not great. If I were to have to be a server, I’d go to The Outback and work. Tips are going to be much better especially since the computer tells you how much to tip now.

[Johnny2X2X]

7. As someone who worked those jobs in my youth

I worked at some awful places. One restaurant had a waiver from the state so they could pay cooks, dishwashers, and bussers less than minimum wage (no tips either).

At a lot of these places there's a palpable psychological beatdown of workers occurring by owners and managers. They constantly tell workers they can't do any better, they're constantly doing and saying things to make workers feel worthless. Wife worked for a place like that several years ago, it's easy to get caught up in, and after years people just think it's all they're worth.

Now some of these small ma and pa places are great places to work, people stay out of loyalty, others pay well. Here's the thing though, if some ma and pa place won't pay fair wages, they probably aren't good places to work outside of the pay either, they don't value and respect their employees and their family's rights to live in dignity.

[Polybius]

13. Outback pays servers on the books

Many mom and pop restaurants do not. Servers in these places scam the government, claim zero tips, still get government services, and wind up with more weekly pay because of it.

[GregariousGroundhog]

24. Claiming no tips is a fast track to getting audited

If a restaurant's employees collectively report tip income that is less than 8% of that establishment sales, that raises a red flag with the IRS. If an employee reports on their yearly taxes a number significantly different than what the restaurant reported to the IRS, that also raises a red flag.

[Polybius]

34. If there is no record of the employee working there, there won't be an audit

Many local places are off the books. Servers are getting paid cash (as well as tips). Many rake in government services as well, since there is no record of them working.

[Demsrule86]

28. In my area people are not going to restaurants much and the servers get $2.50 an hour

and with little to no tips...they can't make it. Many in the Cleveland area are going into the factories ...where pay is usually at least $12.00 an hour (more in most cases) and there is overtime. I get tired of the attacks on Amazon when no one says a word about that 'great progressive company that pays $9.50 an hour...Starbucks who also as a 'favor' to workers made it so they pay for the insurance they want in 16...really shitty insurance. They also keep folks part-time and change their hours so it is hard to work another job. People in my area like Amazon. We have a Warehouse in Cleveland.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. My friend works at an Amazon warehouse in NJ.

She got full health benefits on Day One.

[Johnny2X2X]

4. Same here in MI

Know people who get plenty of OT, benefits, and they offer some college tuition reimbursement too.

I get it, Amazon isn't the GM of the 80s, but it's a massive employer now and they are improving working conditions and compensation for workers. They're raising the floor for the working poor in America right now, maybe they won't be that way in another couple years, but right now it's having a very real effect.

[Tree Lady]

10. I have a few family members that work

For Amazon, one in Seattle and the other in Sacramento. Both doing ok.

The one in Sacramento is on 4 month paternity leave paid by them and it was great to watch dad who was used to working nights do the night shift with the baby so my granddaughter could sleep. She pumps milk during the day.

I can't even imagine after I was up every night with my two girls.

[Ms. Toad]

33. Yup.

Based on the research my daughter did, Starbucks was the only one close - she got benefits there after 3 months. Everyone else she looked at for equivalent skill didn't provide health care for a year.

She's now working both Starbucks and Amazon.

She likes the work at Starbucks better (she says Amazon is deadly boring), but she doesn't like the customer and co-worker interactions at Starbacks. And Amazon pays significantly more - and gives her FT + OT anytime she wants it.

[USALiberal]

6. I'm waiting for the "Amazon is evil" posts!

[Johnny2X2X]

9. Business school today

As someone who got out of business school in the last few years, I was really surprised at the emphasis on ethics and good corporate citizenship. My professors said it's been going on for a couple decades now in business schools across the country, including the big prestigious schools. Corporations are being run by these younger execs now, many of them really want to do what is right, They focus on inclusion and sustainability. Work life balance is more than just a catch phrase many places now. More long term thinking is creeping in, how can we build a lasting business built on the knowledge and success of our employees?

Doesn't mean it's not still in need of work, and there are countless horror stories still, but I believe things are improving at the corporate level, there are good people doing good things. And managers see competitive advantages to sustainability and investing in the workforce now, so it's going to continue if we help it to. There seems to be some momentum right now, we have the right administration in place to help where they can. Not going to happen overnight, but things can get better for working people, I believe they are getting better.

[ansible]

36. Jeff Bezos is NOT a saint

I really wish DU would stop defending billionaires just because they vote D. You don't become that rich without doing some really evil things.

[bluestarone]

8. Nothing like a union THREAT to make a company

Treat their workers like a human being!

[Johnny2X2X]

11. No doubt that had an effect

Amazon employs 1 Million Americans, if we can get them to $20 an hour soon, which I think will happen very quickly, that's going to set a standard for a lot of work.

[former9thward]

19. They have had no serious union threat.

The facility in Bessemer, AL was majority female African-American and the union lost that vote by 70% to 30%.

[bluestarone]

20. True, BUT still they don't want disgruntled employees

Not sure if THAT union fight is over or not.

[LizBeth]

12. My son told me yeterday got a job to start today without interview because a friend

recommended him. I have to figure a good time for perspective employees to get hired.

[Demsrule86]

29. LizBeth did you find work? Hubs got work but it was a terrible company some are going to end up

in jail...he went to work in November and was fired for cause at the end of March. The state of Ohio said there was no cause so, after eight weeks, he got one unemployment check. He had been hired after his first interview at a new job. There are more jobs now or he got lucky. Less money but he really likes the company and the people at this job. I am renovating a house to sell...and hope to have it on the market by next week. The market is good right now. Since hub's new job is in Cleveland, we can't keep this house ...too far a commute. I hope you are doing well.

[LizBeth]

35. Right now? I am sending out apps looking for that livable wage. I have a couple months.

Yawl were so excited about the job only to have that mess. I hope thing smooth out for you and you get a bit of peaceful routine.

[lame54]

14. Do they get their own pee bottle?

[MineralMan]

21. I don't know. Do you?

I don't know anyone well who works for Amazon. Do you?

I do know that several of my neighbors work for Amazon, though. Amazon is hiring here in Minnesota, and is hiring all sorts of people. A lot of Somali immigrants are working at Amazon, along with Hmong people.

It's hard work in many cases, and is really best suited for relatively young people, due to the manual labor part of many of the available jobs. But, it pays better than most other semi or unskilled jobs around here. If you're willing and able to work, Amazon will probably hire you. So, there it is.

But I don't work there, so I don't know exactly what working for Amazon is like. Do you?

[lame54]

27. Fuck Amazon...

They treat their employees like garbage

This story or your antecdote does not change that

[Demsrule86]

30. Getting paid and having healthcare is huge...few like their jobs and are treated well these days.

[USALiberal]

25. So you are saying they should not take the job?

[Johnny2X2X]

15. Unemployment extension is helping

I think that Biden is smart and calculated. I think extending UE through the Summer was in part to have this effect of driving the cost of labor up for the working poor. While they're curtailing thing some now, it's having an effect. Drive those hourly rates up, it ends up driving the economy forward.

[Hekate]

18. Thanks for this perspective, and for your OP.

[RegularJam]

16. Average starting wage.

That most often means a majority of the jobs will be well under 17/hr.

[Johnny2X2X]

17. Amazon doesn't pay less than $15 anywhere

So not much under.

[Ms. Toad]

32. Correct.

My daughter's been working there for a few months now.

[MineralMan]

22. Not in Minnesota.

Notice that they're talking about starting pay, too. You won't necessarily always be working for that rate, either.

[MineralMan]

23. See what Amazon Employees Say and How They Rate Amazon

https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Amazon-Reviews-E6036.htm

It's interesting.

[HipChick]

26. Bezo stepped down a while back

[Ms. Toad]

31. The benefits are more than "some."

My daughter's health care plan is chepaer and more comprehensive than any other plan she's had - and (unlike the others) it started on day 1.

She also has a 401K plan, dental benefits (which she's never had before), discounts, and I can't recall what else. She was given paid time off to be vaccinated - plus $80. So the benefits are significant.

The OT stinks (they can call her in for mandatory OT when they feel like it, and she is required to work or be fired, unless she has enough time built up to take the day off). The hours stink. She works 3rd shift (fine for her), but it is a 10-hour shift four days in a row - with the next day being her potential mandatory OT day.