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Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Amazon suffers major Prime Day labor problem
Amazon (AMZN) just wrapped its annual Prime Day event, and according to the retailer, it was its biggest Prime Day ever. Amazon opted for a longer Prime Day than usual this year, making it four days long, which probably helped Amazon quite a bit with what it calls "record sales" - although it did not disclose the exact amount it made. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Amazon also emphasized that its independent sellers broke sales records, which is likely highlighted in hopes of combating negative press collected earlier this year about the impact of tariffs on small businesses that operate on Amazon. It quoted the small beauty brand Olivia Garden, who told Amazon, "Prime Day 2025 was our most successful Amazon shopping event since launching our store in 2019," per co-owner Anne Maza of the small business Olivia Garden. Related: Amazon faces troubling allegations from angry customers So perhaps Amazon has proved that its sheer retail power can overcome even the fear of tariffs. Give people enough great deals, offer them for longer than usual, and they'll still come. That said, Amazon did struggle with one problem during Prime Day that may point to a flaw in the company's operational prowess. Amazon wanted this Prime Day to be huge, and clearly was aware that the demand from customers could potentially outweigh its ability to handle it. So Amazon sent a Slack message to thousands of Amazon employees working in the New York area to ask them to volunteer to help with Prime Day, per reporting from The Guardian. More Retail: Huge retail chain suddenly closing hundreds of storesMajor retailer scores huge benefit from Joann bankruptcyHome Depot, Target, Ulta and more strike back at retail crime The ask said the company needed corporate volunteers to work two-hour shifts between 10 am and 6 pm on Tuesday through Friday in Brooklyn, where an Amazon warehouse provides grocery delivery services. The message also stated that volunteers would help to pick items, prepare carts, pack boxes, and prepare bags of groceries, and promised to "boost morale with distribution of snacks." Related: Amazon CEO makes a seemingly impossible promise However, employees were also told they could step into conference rooms as needed to take meetings and calls, as they were still expected to maintain their regular job duties. This is not the first time Amazon has done this, according to a statement from Amazon spokesperson Griffin Buch. "This support is entirely optional, and it allows corporate employees to get closer to customers while enabling our store teams to focus on the work that's most impactful," Buch said. While Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has said he's bullish about Amazon's grocery business, the company has certainly had a challenge finding its footing in the space, as Amazon Fresh has had its share of struggles in the past. In 2023, Amazon suspended the opening of new Amazon Fresh stores, closed several locations in London, and laid off employees. The company also further brought Whole Foods executives into the fold. Ex-Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel moved to Amazon in 2022 to head up its grocery division, while 30-year Whole Foods veteran Karen Christensen now leads North America Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go. For Prime Day 2025, Amazon prepared several deals to entice customers to use Fresh, including a free 90-day trial for new customers and $30 off deliveries for current members. However, some critics complain that Amazon Fresh has an identity issue that discounts won't solve. "Amazon became successful being an innovator offering better buying options for buying goods. It looks like Fresh was started as a follower in a low-margin, highly competitive industry where they have no advantage on buying the branded items they sell," writes Sax Maritime president Joseph Sabbage in a story for Supermarket News. "The consolidation of Amazon's retail locations will only show improved returns if changes are made, especially at Fresh," Sabbage continued. "If they continue to open and operate Amazon Fresh stores without major changes they will continue to lose money." Related: An unpleasant change is coming to Amazon Prime The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon asks corporate workers to ‘volunteer' help with grocery deliveries as Prime Day frenzy approaches
Corporate employees of Amazon were asked on Monday to volunteer their time to the company's warehouses to assist with grocery delivery as it heads into its annual discount spree known as 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. Amazon routinely hires thousands of extra warehouse workers in advance of its annual Prime Day sale, which sees the massive online retailer discount thousands of goods, creating a surge in orders and demand for delivery. Amazon Fresh, available to Prime subscribers but separate from Amazon subsidiary Whole Foods, is also offering discounts this week during Prime Day, such as a free 90-day trial of the delivery services and $30 off of deliveries for current members, while maintaining its same-day or next-day delivery service. New York is one of Amazon's busiest areas in the US. An Amazon spokesperson, Griffin Buch, said this is not the first time 'grocery corporate' employees have been 'invited to volunteer' with fulfillment. 'This support is entirely optional, and it allows corporate employees to get closer to customers while enabling our store teams to focus on the work that's most impactful,' Buch said. Amazon Fresh has faced turbulence in recent years. Amid cost-cutting efforts in 2023 and a struggle to turn a profit on grocery delivery, CEO Andy Jassy closed several physical Amazon Fresh locations and laid off hundreds of employees in the segment. Amazon has laid off more than 27,000 employees overall since cost-cutting efforts began in 2022. A week ago, Jassy spoke on CNBC of a future at Amazon where drones and even robots were used to fulfill and deliver goods to people. 'Over time, as we expand the use of robotics in our fulfillment centers, we will have robots doing fulfillment and transportation for us,' he said.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Amazon asks corporate employees to work in warehouses for …; says, ‘This support is entirely…'
Amazon has asked its corporate workers in New York to "volunteer" and assist with grocery deliveries as the company approaches its annual Prime Day sales event. This internal request aims to support the firm during what is expected to be one of its busiest periods. In a Slack message, seen by The Guardian, an Amazon area manager called for white-collar volunteers from the New York City area, including engineers and marketing staff, to "help us out with Prime Day to deliver to customers on our biggest days yet." However, the report didn't mention how many employees accepted the offer. What Amazon said about making this request to its corporate employees In a statement, Griffin Buch , an Amazon spokesperson, said: 'This support is entirely optional, and it allows corporate employees to get closer to customers while enabling our store teams to focus on the work that's most impactful.' He also added that this is not the first time 'grocery corporate' employees have been 'invited to volunteer' with fulfilment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Bother With An Expensive Will (Do This Instead) Local Will Finder Undo The request was made a day before Prime Day began in the US. Volunteers were "needed" to work two-hour shifts between 10 AM and 6 PM on multiple days of this week at a warehouse in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighbourhood, which is part of Amazon Fresh's grocery delivery service . Corporate employees assisting at the warehouse would be tasked with picking items, preparing carts and bags for delivery, packing boxes, and distributing snacks to boost morale. The message also noted that volunteers would be permitted to take meetings and calls in a conference room and that the effort would help connect warehouse and corporate teams. Amazon typically brings on thousands of additional warehouse workers ahead of its annual Prime Day event, which triggers a sharp rise in orders and delivery demand as the retail giant slashes prices across a wide range of products. Amazon Fresh — the grocery delivery service exclusive to Prime members and separate from Whole Foods — is also offering Prime Day promotions. These include a free 90-day trial and $30 off for existing users, all while continuing to provide same-day or next-day delivery. New York remains one of Amazon's busiest markets in the US. What Is Artificial Intelligence? Explained Simply With Real-Life Examples AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Engadget
08-07-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Amazon asked corporate employees to help fulfill grocery deliveries for Prime Day
Amazon has asked its white collar employees to help fulfill grocery deliveries for Prime Day, according to The Guardian . 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. The volunteers are "needed" to pick items for grocery orders from Amazon's Fresh warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn. They're expected to pack the groceries in bags and boxes and then place them on receiving carts. Since the volunteers can't completely abandon their normal jobs, they will be able to take calls and meetings in a conference room. New York is one of Amazon's busiest locations, and the company most likely expects an increase in grocery orders this week, since it offers Fresh discounts for Prime Day. Couple that with a free trial for its delivery services, and people are bound to put in orders during the event. Amazon is known to hire thousands of extra workers to help fulfill the surge in orders for Prime Day, which takes place from July 8 to July 11 this year. So why did it have to ask corporate employees to volunteer? Well, the manager who sent out the call said it would help "connect" Amazon's warehouse and corporate teams. Griffin Buch, Amazon's spokesperson, said this wasn't the first time that Amazon's corporate employees have been "invited to volunteer" for warehouse fulfillment. "This support is entirely optional, and it allows corporate employees to get closer to customers while enabling our store teams to focus on the work that's most impactful," Buch explained. To note, Amazon doesn't have a great track record when it comes to the working conditions in its warehouses. A previous report from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) showed that Amazon warehouse workers suffer more injuries that their counterparts outside of Amazon. The company has also been accused of union-busting several times in the past.
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First Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
To make Prime Day a success, Amazon asks engineers, marketers to 'volunteer' for home delivery in NYC
Corporate employees will be required to pick up items, prepare carts and bags of groceries for delivery and pack boxes on receiving carts read more A person works at the Amazon warehouse, busy on Prime Day, in Melville, New York, US. Reuters file Ahead of the much-anticipated Amazon Prime Day, the company has reportedly asked its corporate employees to run down to the warehouse and volunteer their time to assist delivery workers with dispatching groceries. According to a report by The Guardian, a Slack message went to thousands of white-collar workers in the New York City area, including engineers to marketers, from Amazon's area manager, calling for 'volunteers to help us out with Prime Day to deliver to customers on our biggest days yet'. It is, however, not clear how many employees signed up for the task. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What would they do? The manager noted that those taking up the volunteer job are 'needed' to work Tuesday through Friday this week in two-hour-long shifts between 10 am and 6 pm in an Amazon Fresh warehouse located in Brooklyn. Corporate employees will be required to pick up items, prepare carts and bags of groceries for delivery and pack boxes on receiving carts. While carrying out these tasks, employees would be allowed to take meetings and attend calls in between. The manager noted that volunteering would give corporate and warehouse officials to 'connect'. 'Not the first time' An Amazon spokesperson, Griffin Buch, said this is not the first time corporate employees have been asked to lend a hand in the warehouse ahead of a major sale. 'This support is entirely optional, and it allows corporate employees to get closer to customers while enabling our store teams to focus on the work that's most impactful,' he said. Amazon regularly brings on thousands of additional warehouse workers ahead of its annual Prime Day sale, which features major discounts on thousands of items and leads to a spike in orders and delivery demand. Amazon Fresh, a service for Prime members that's separate from its Whole Foods subsidiary, is also offering deals during Prime Day this week.
