Amazon Asks Corporate Workers To 'Volunteer' Help With Grocery Deliveries as Prime Day Frenzy Approaches (theguardian.com)
- Reference: 0178313740
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/25/07/08/202255/amazon-asks-corporate-workers-to-volunteer-help-with-grocery-deliveries-as-prime-day-frenzy-approaches
- Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/07/amazon-grocery-deliveries-prime-day
> In a Slack message reviewed by the Guardian that went to thousands of white-collar workers in the New York City area from engineers to marketers, an Amazon area manager called for corporate "volunteers to help us out with Prime Day to deliver to customers on our biggest days yet." It is not clear how many took up the offer.
>
> The ask came the day before Prime Day kicks off. The manager said volunteers are "needed" to work Tuesday through Friday this week, in two-hour shifts between 10am and 6pm in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, where the company operates a warehouse as part of its grocery delivery service, Amazon Fresh. Corporate employees seconded to the warehouse would be tasked with picking items, preparing carts and bags of groceries for delivery, packing boxes on receiving carts, and working to "boost morale with distribution of snacks," though they would be allowed to step into a conference room to take meetings and calls, according to the message. The manager noted such an effort would help "connect" warehouse and corporate teams.
Further reading : [2]Amazon Prime Day Spending Down 14% in Early Hours From 2024 .
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/07/amazon-grocery-deliveries-prime-day
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-08/amazon-prime-day-spending-down-14-in-early-hours-from-2024
Perspective (Score:2)
a.) It's a billion dollar company. They can hire and pay the needed workforce. I'm not doing it!
b.) All hands chipping in to get their gravy train through a few days of heavy demand seems like a good thing for keeping the gravy train going. No?
Re:Perspective (Score:5, Funny)
"Gravy"? Urhm, you mean that stuff in the jars next to everybody's workstation? That's not gravy.
Priorities (Score:2)
It is important that money is saved in order to pay for Jeff's wedding cake.
Ummm.. (Score:2)
> âoeThis support is entirely optional, and it allows corporate employees to get closer to customers while enabling our store teams to focus on the work thatâ(TM)s most impactful,â Buch said.
Amazon doesn't give a shit about its customers. What's the real reason they have a worker shortage?
Re: (Score:2)
The real reason is their physical operations are not setup for a massive increase in demand. If your normal load is needing 100 full-time workers, you may have 90 full-time and 30 part-time, with the understanding that if some of the full-time folks don't show up you call in a part-timer to take on an additional shift (or in the case of Amazon and most American companies it's probably 240 part-time workers to avoid paying benefits, because they're greedy as fuck). If your demand spikes to 400 workers for 2
Income... (Score:2)
Let me guess , to save money they will be paid "drivers" wages.
Those that do NOT agree will be seen as "not team players" and will lose promotions, and be first in line for the next round of layoffs.
The amazon way (Score:5, Informative)
More and more big companies start to resemble the robbing baron empires of the 18 and 19th centuries, where basically you end having to pay for the privilege of working there. Amazon has been firing employees left and right, and now is short? Well, why not start by hiring employees back? Is such a revolutionary stray of thought? Oh wait, it might cut down on Bezos's botton line by a few millions ...
And that my friend is the amazon way, make money by profiteering from free work
Voluntold (Score:2)
Rightfully fearing for their jobs, I fully anticipate many Amazon workers will "volunteer"
Happiness rating (Score:2)
I think we have nailed down why Americans are so unhappy compared to everyone else.
Wasn't the originally point of prime day.. (Score:3)
Wasn't the original point of prime day for Amazon to test their logistics and infrastructure systems alike by causing people cluster purchases all at once?
The idea being use the discount/sale to get people to place some orders early, delay some orders until prime day, and make some purchases they might not otherwise all at the same time as a stress test.
Seems like now that prime day, has turned into prime week and we are looking for people to pitch in doing fulfillment who don't normally do that, perhaps a shark has been jumped?
Beats sitting at a desk (Score:2)
At least here is a job that's safe from AI for another couple of years.
What kind of volunteering is this? (Score:2)
Is this "during work hours, for the hours you're paid, instead of doing the job you normally do, do some warehouse work"?
Or is it "on top of all your regular work, come and volunteer to do additional unpaid work"?
If the former, then, whatever, this is no big deal.
If the latter, then, damn, Amazon needs to get the hell sued out of it. Not that that would happen in our current world.
Re: (Score:2)
It's the former. The meaning of "volunteer" here is to do something voluntarily , as opposed to by compulsion. Employees are being asked to do something outside the scope of their normal work duties, during working hours, for pay, without being assigned to it by their managers.
As much as we'd all like to imagine the hypocrisy of one of the world's largest companies asking its employees for free labor, that doesn't seem to be what's happening here.
Is that still a thing? (Score:2)
Marking things down to a sane price is not a sale. Amazon used to have good deals in the early 2000s when they were still trying to 'compete' to establish themselves.
Competition today is an auto-script that simply matches the other guy's price. 'competition' is gone. It's more like price collusion.
I'm of two minds (Score:2)
On the one hand, this isn't in the job description, so...no.
On the other hand, I actually think it's useful for people that are programming systems that other people use to actually use the systems themselves in a production environment to see how they function. If you're a programmer writing software that people at the warehouse have to use, it SHOULD be part of your description to do that job for a few days a year to understand what the biggest problems are.
And also: no volunteering. If you spend any time
"GIVE" my time to the company?!?! (Score:2)
WTF Bozos!?!?!... When you can fucking rent Venice for your wedding to that plastic bimbo, you can fucking pay your workers. How stupid are you Amazombies?
do they get commercial auto insurance and full mil (Score:2)
do they get commercial auto insurance and full mileage?
Why don't they get AI bots to do it? (Score:1)
Gotta save on that workforce payroll
My answer (Score:5, Insightful)
My answer would start with 'blow' and end with 'me'.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
To which they respond with words ending in "fired" and starting with "you're"
Re: My answer (Score:2)
I'm hoping there are labor laws in the US against forcing people to work for free.
Re: (Score:2)
> I'm hoping there are labor laws in the US against forcing people to work for free.
It is illegal for Amazon to even allow them to work for free, even if they truly volunteered. Workers must be paid at least the minimum wage ($16.50 in Brooklyn).
Nobody is being asked to work for free. They are being asked to help out in the warehouse instead of their normal job duties.
Re: (Score:3)
That is definitely not what the word 'volunteer' means and it is used many times. Nor do I see anywhere in the summary about people being paid. I'm scared to click on the article these days.
Re: (Score:2)
Come on. You think Amazon is asking them to work for free?
> The company has reportedly sent out a Slack message to its corporate workers in New York City, asking for "volunteers to help [it] out with Prime Day to deliver to customers on [its] biggest days yet." That message went out to everyone from engineers to marketers. Specifically, Amazon wants its officer workers to "volunteer" their time in two-hour shifts between 10AM and 6PM from Tuesday to Friday this week.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
volunteer (verb) freely offer to do something.
Re: (Score:2)
> volunteer (verb) freely offer to do something.
Volunteer in this case most likely means, "During your regular hours, volunteer to work in the warehouse instead of at your desk." At least, that's what it would mean in any business I've ever been involved in. Though, I will say, that wording, "volunteer their time " is a bit suspicious, and it is Amazon, so I hate to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
Ok that must be a special American meaning of the word then.
Re: (Score:1)
Bro, all you're proving here is that you have a 4th grade understanding of the English language.
Re: (Score:2)
I can second the above's point. Over the years I've volunteered to do a few things for the company I work for and the time spent doing those things came out of my regular work week so 2 hours doing stuff for an Earth Day event for work would mean only doing my regular job 38 hours that week.
This isnt to say Amazon cant be up to something shady, I'm just saying it's not guaranteed with that wording.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
Either way it doesn't sound like there are enough details to know exactly what they mean. A company known for treating workers badly should be more specific.
Re: (Score:2)
> Either way it doesn't sound like there are enough details to know exactly what they mean.
"Know?" Maybe not. "Infer?" Absolutely. 10AM-6PM is in the range that normal office workers are at their desks, so it stands to reason they are asking their office workers to be in a warehouse instead of at their desks. It's not exactly a giant leap to conclude such.
Re: My answer (Score:3)
You can't infer anything about Amazon.
Re: (Score:2)
"volunteer their time" isn't a direct quote from Amazon, it's language made up by The Guardian to mislead and upset people, because clicks and social justice.
Re: (Score:3)
They're being voluntold.
Re: (Score:2)
> Come on. You think Amazon is asking them to work for free?
>> The company has reportedly sent out a Slack message to its corporate workers in New York City, asking for "volunteers to help [it] out with Prime Day to deliver to customers on [its] biggest days yet." That message went out to everyone from engineers to marketers. Specifically, Amazon wants its officer workers to "volunteer" their time in two-hour shifts between 10AM and 6PM from Tuesday to Friday this week.
This. For all the Webster's Dictionary Warriors on /., I'd bet Amazon simply wants them to help out and still get paid; and that they can slip out for calls tells me they are on teh clock. It probably is not a bad idea to get corporate to understand what the front line does; a number of companies do that to help corporate appreciate what the line workers do.
Re: (Score:2)
> That is definitely not what the word 'volunteer' means and it is used many times. Nor do I see anywhere in the summary about people being paid. I'm scared to click on the article these days.
These are salaried workers. They are, by definition, getting paid, and paid the same amount whether they work extra hours in the warehouse or not.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
So they are getting 30-50/hour to work in the warehouse? Id be pissed if I was there doing the same job as them for $14.
Re: (Score:2)
Wait, what do you think the word volunteer means? The official definition says one who freely offers to do something, that means to choose to do something of your own volition rather than be compelled. It DOES NOT mean working for free.
In this case, they are volunteering to work in the warehouse in lieu of their normal workplace. And the word volunteer is appropriate because their bosses aren't singling people out and saying "YOU WILL GO WORK IN THE WAREHOUSE".
Re: (Score:2)
> Nobody is being asked to work for free. They are being asked to help out in the warehouse instead of their normal job duties.
>> That is definitely not what the word 'volunteer' means and it is used many times.
That is absolutely what the word 'volunteer' means in this context. "a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task." ("freely" in this instance is intended to mean "without coercion", not "without compensation". Think "free speech" not "free beer".)
Re: My answer (Score:2)
Ok I see that now. But you can't have 50/hr workers doing the same job as 16/hr workers. That would make the 26/hr workers feel like shit.
Re: (Score:2)
> But you can't have 50/hr workers doing the same job as 16/hr workers. That would make the 26/hr workers feel like shit.
Why? I literally just did something similar a couple months ago. It was end-of-quarter, there were a shitload of extra orders to ship, and the warehouse was short staffed. They asked for volunteers to go help out, and I jumped in. I got a "thanks for jumping in to help dig us out" from the warehouse workers, not a "you make 3x what I do, get your ass outta here."
Re: (Score:2)
Nothing in the article says anything about them working for free.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
The article doesn't use the word 'volunteer'?
Re: (Score:2)
The article seems purposefully clickbaity, because it also says "volunteers are "needed" to work Tuesday through Friday this week, in two-hour shifts between 10am and 6pm", which is smack in the middle of your work week. Unless you believe office workers would somehow not be paid for the 2h shift they take in the middle of a workday, this is just replacing your office job with a warehouse job for a couple hours.
You "volunteer" as in, you voluntarily choose to work in the warehouse as opposed to your norma
Re: My answer (Score:2)
So some people working in the warehouse are going to be doing it making $14 an hour while others will keep their $30 an hour wage? That seems like a waste of money for Amazon and also terrible for morale.
Re: (Score:2)
There's also the issue of WHERE they would be volunteering their time. If they live and work in a city, say SF, and the nearest warehouse is in Milpitas, will Amazon pay for the additional commute? What if the distance is greater, like 300 miles? That, AFAIK, _is_ illegal.
Re: (Score:2)
The word "volunteer" means they voluntarily choose to work in the warehouse. It does not mean they're doing it without pay.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
Then what do they get paid? Warehouse wages or regular wages?
Re: (Score:2)
Who knows. But considering these are all corporate folks, they're all on salary.
Re: (Score:3)
Oh my God, you're serious? Let me laugh even harder.
For the record if you are a salaried employee they can make you work as much as they want for the same pay and your only recourse is to quit. And if you are a high enough level employee and try to go work for a competitor because they're in the same field here in expect a lawsuit. Sure the lawsuit might not be enforceable but have fun battling it out in court.
We gave up on labor law around the time we got obsessed with trans girls in bathrooms and t
Re: (Score:2)
Are you referring to only Amazon or salaried workers anywhere within the US?
My company allows salaried workers to claim OT when working more than 40 hours. However that goes with the expectation that you're actually putting in productive hours throughout the week. Very few associates I've seen would be able to say with a straight face that they worked more than 40 hours in a week (or even 32 hours in a week).
We also allow associates to volunteer for weekend events and claim OT pay.. which personally I
Re: (Score:2)
Salaried workers anywhere in the United States.
If your company allows that it's because it's a benefit not because it's a legal requirement. They can take that benefit away without notice in most cases.
Amazon is a notoriously bad company to work for so I have no doubt in my mind that any employee on salary will be doing that work for free. While also working 60 to 70 hours a week on whatever their main project is.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
> an Amazon area manager called for corporate "volunteers to help us out with Prime Day to deliver to customers on our biggest days yet."
"Force"? How do you get "force" from "volunteer"? Why can't you stick to the ACTUAL story, not the anti-Amazon illusions you've conjured-up?
Re: (Score:1)
careful guys, it looks like we're dealing with a badass. he'd just tell his boss to fuck right off! and then he'd fire his boss and fly away on his rocketship and accept an award for not taking shit from anyone, from the president.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
You never have to in a country with strong labor laws. It is understood that personal time is personal time.
Re: (Score:2)
> You never have to in a country with strong labor laws. It is understood that personal time is personal time.
We're working on phasing out the concept of personal time in the USA. It's really gotten in the way of continued quarterly increases in profits.
Re: (Score:2)
An Amazon warehouse area manager cannot fire anyone in a corporate office.
Re: (Score:2)
Does Amazon pay more than its competitors?
Between this and the mandatory RTO policy, I am having a hard time understanding how Amazon manages to retain top tier talent.
Re: (Score:2)
where are they going to go. they are addicted to their half a million paychecks and half a million in RSU. if massa says jump they say 'how high'. i left that rat race. it's like government work, it looks good from the outside but once you get in you realize you just sold your soul for easy sailing (govt) or easy money (faang)
Re: (Score:2)
I wonder how much of an imposition it really is.
The toughest part of most blue collar work is the repetitiveness. It is hard on both body and mind to get up and do the same thing over and over again day after day. Add to it the stress of being constantly evaluated on how many tiny errors you make or how many many seconds that floor stack job took this time and sure it is no picnic.
Now imagine your some project manager, that gets asked to help out at the order fulfillment center for an afternoon or maybe a
Re: (Score:2)
I guess I'm the odd ball, because I would do it, as long as it wasn't in addition to my regular duties, i.e. unpaid overtime. Get out of my cubicle for a couple of days. See what other people at the company do. I'd rather drive a fork lift or something, but I'd pack boxes a couple of days.
Re: My answer (Score:2)
Found the bosses pet!
Re: (Score:2)
Sometimes a change of pace is nice. Physical labor is a good way to get the blood flowing. Getting to interact with the people whom it's my day-job to support is just a bonus. I'd take the opportunity too, regardless if some curmudgeon called me a "bosses pet" or not.