Amazon India committed to support frontline teams through the COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to rise in India, Amazon India is leaving no stone unturned to ensure our front line teams are safe and have all the support they need at this difficult time. In an effort to keep our frontline teams who are enabling home deliveries for millions of our customers safe, we have launched multiple initiatives and benefits for our people.

All associates working at our sites through staffing agencies are eligible for a one month salary advance, when they are in requirement of financial support related to healthcare and medical treatment during this COVID-19 crisis.

We believe that vaccinations are the way forward for us to get through this pandemic. To this end, we will cover the vaccination cost for all employees and associates working at our sites through staffing agencies and those across the operations partner network including Amazon Flex drivers, I Have Space store partners, trucking partners, as well as their eligible dependents.

Additionally, all associates working through staffing agencies will receive a special pay of up to Rs.1500 for both doses of the vaccine taken offsite.

Furthermore, Amazon India provides medical insurance and ESIC benefits to all associates hired through staffing agencies. Medical insurance support is also provided to all Delivery Service partner associates and I Have Space Partners. The coverage supports a range of hospitalization expenses including room rentals, select day care procedures, and COVID-19 hospitalization.

As doctors and hospitals are reportedly working to their full capacity, Amazon India has taken a helpful step in this direction, and now provides online tele consultation and online medical help to all employees and associates hired through staffing agencies from the safety of their home for themselves and their eligible dependents, as a paid service

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free counselling and referral service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Amazon employees can use the EAP starting on their first day of employment. EAP services are confidential and free of charge. EAP is also available to family members of employees. Amazon is facilitating this service through external service providers for employees across India.

Amazon is now making critical devices available for employees and associates who need easy and quick access to devices like Infrared thermometers and Oximeters. These devices will be available on demand and can be utilized by all across Amazon sites who require it.

If an employee or associate hired through our staffing agencies is confirmed positive for COVID-19 or placed under quarantine based on direction from the government or by Amazon India, they will receive 2 weeks of paid leave over and above their available leave balance.

We understand that staying home in isolation may not be an option for many – especially in joint families. If any of our associates hired through our staffing agencies or their eligible dependents are tested positive for COVID-19 and are not able quarantine at home, they can go to one of the isolation hotels (authorized by the government) as per the doctor’s advice. This benefit is also covered under the Insurance program subject to terms and conditions.

To help our teams with information as well as resources, we have set up city-wise COVID-19 warrior teams, who will work with HR teams to provide immediate assistance on a variety of topics such as hospital and oxygen search or other COVID-19 related medical emergencies. Additionally, we have set up a voluntary initiative that will connect employees and associates to donors among Amazon employees who have fully recovered from COVID-19 and are willing to donate their blood plasma.

In April 2020, Amazon announced a $25 million relief fund for partner associates impacted due to COVID-19, and since then has provided support to all eligible individuals. ARF can be utilized by qualifying individuals who have been quarantined or diagnosed with COVID19. The company has extended the ‘Amazon Relief Fund’ to all eligible delivery associates who are part of the Delivery Service Partner Program, Amazon Flex program and trucking partners providing transportation support in the event of financial hardships.

Amazon India has put together a number of these initiatives to support and help protect its employees, associates and operations partner network, and hope that, together, we will overcome this crisis.