Amazon raises pay, but cuts elsewhere

Bonuses, stock benefits dropped

NEW YORK — Amazon made a big splash this week withits$15anhourminimum wage announcement, but lost in the fine print: Existing warehouse workers will no longer receive stock in the company or collect bonuses.

The online giant says next month it will end bonuses, which paid workers extra based on their attendance and warehouse productivity,asitboostsitsminimum wage.

Amazon will also phase out its restricted stock unit program, which gave shares toworkersiftheystayed with Amazon for a certain amount of years. Amazon saysitwillreplaceitwitha programnextyearthatwill allow workers to buy stock, but didn’t provide details.

Amazon.com Inc. says “compensation will be more immediate and predictable” with the changes.

Amazon has more than 4,500 employees in Nevada spread across fulfillment centers,deliverystations, corporate offices and Prime Now facilities, according to Lauren Lynch, an operations communication employee for Amazon.

The new minimum wage will impact full-time fulfillment associates, but not corporate employees.

“All of Amazon’s hourly operations and customer service employees will see an increase, including those who are already making

$15,” Lynch said via email.

Current pay for warehouse workers at Amazon is at least $12.50 an hour in Las Vegas, $12.25 an hour in Omaha, Nebraska, $13 in Baltimore, and$16.50innewyork, according to recent job postings. The wage increase takes effect next month.

Review-journal staff writer Bailey Schulz contributed to this story.