Amazon is handing out 'Thank you' t-shirts to warehouse workers as it cuts their hazard pay

[Celerity]

'It's a slap in the face'

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-warehouse-workers-thank-you-t-shirts-as-it-cuts-their-hazard-pay-2020-5?r=US&IR=T



Amazon is handing out branded merchandise to say thanks to warehouse workers during the coronavirus pandemic, even as it phases out policies intended to help. Two Amazon employees told Business Insider the company has distributed "thank-you" t-shirts to its warehouse workers (or "fulfillment associates" ).

One worker based in Indiana shared a picture of the shirt they received, the front reads "Thanks to you" and on the back: "Together, we'll deliver." The workers said the t-shirts were distributed last week, when they were placed in a room and workers had to go in to pick the size they wanted. The token comes as Amazon announced it would be cutting the $2 per hour wage hike it brought in for staff in mid-March as hazard pay for coming in during the pandemic.

The workers BI spoke to aren't particularly happy about the trade-off. "With states opening up and over 21 cases at our warehouse so far and at least one death at the Indianapolis warehouse, it's a slap in the face," one said. Another employee based in Texas said similar t-shirts had been given out at their warehouse — although they did not receive one because they do not work on the warehouse floor.

"All I can say was that it felt like they are trying to change the narrative that is reflected in the news, as it looks negatively upon the company. While I hate to sound ungrateful for anything, putting a big 'Thank you' on the shirt was a clear indication they wanted to sway our thoughts. It just didn't feel sincere," they said.

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