Bezos: I’ll do more for Amazon workers
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos vowed to do better by his employees in his last letter as chief executive to shareholders — even as he insisted they’re really not that bad off.
On the heels of a bruising labor battle in Bessemer, Ala., that included claims of punishing working conditions, the richest man in the world on Thursday said he now aims to make the online e-commerce company “earth’s best employer” and “safest place to work.”
It’s a goal Bezos, 57, said he plans to be personally involved in when he steps down as CEO in the third quarter, remaining the tech giant’s chairman.
“In my upcoming role as Executive Chair, I’m going to focus on new initiatives. I’m an inventor. It’s what I enjoy the most and what I do best. It’s where I create the most value. I’m excited to work alongside the large team of passionate people we have in Ops and help invent in this arena of Earth’s Best Employer and Earth’s Safest Place to Work.”
The ambitious new goal follows a failed but still reputationally damaging effort by employees to unionize the company’s warehouse in Bessemer, Ala. Employees overwhelmingly voted to remain out of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, with just 738 out of 6,000 employees voting in favor of a labor contract.
But Amazon still suffered blows in the process, including the union’s claims that Amazon played dirty to win, resulting in political figures like President Biden weighing in to warn Amazon not to interfere.
Amazon also suffered from employees’ complaints about working conditions so harsh they often don’t have enough time to go to the bathroom or take meal breaks. The fight also raised anew concerns about unsafe pandemic work conditions, including cramped quarters with colleagues who contracted the deadly COVID-19.
In his 3,891-word essay, which waxed philosophical about wealth and responsibility as the world’s largest company, Bezos sometimes set a defensive tone about the complaints.
“While the voting results were lopsided and our direct relationship with employees is strong, it’s clear to me that we need a better vision for how we create value for employees — a vision for their success,” Bezos said.