As Amazon gears up for its much-awaited Prime Day sales event, the company has asked corporate staff in New York City to volunteer at its grocery warehouse and help with deliveries.
Message to Office Employees
According to The Guardian, Amazon sent a Slack message to thousands of its white-collar employees, ranging from engineers to marketing staff. The message came from an Amazon area manager who asked for “volunteers to help us out with Prime Day to deliver to customers on our biggest days yet.”
So far, it’s unclear how many employees agreed to volunteer.
What Will Volunteers Do?
Those who volunteer must work at the Amazon Fresh warehouse in Brooklyn. They are expected to put in two-hour shifts between 10 am and 6 pm, from Tuesday through Friday this week. Their tasks will include:
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Picking up grocery items
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Preparing carts and delivery bags
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Packing items into boxes on carts
During these tasks, employees will still be allowed to attend meetings and take work calls. The company said this effort would also allow corporate and warehouse teams to “connect”.
Not a New Move
Amazon spokesperson Griffin Buch said this isn’t the first time the company has asked office staff to assist in warehouses before a big sales event.
He explained, “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.”
Prime Day Brings Massive Demand
Each year, Amazon prepares for Prime Day by hiring thousands of extra warehouse workers. The event, known for its major discounts, creates a huge spike in orders and deliveries.
This year, Amazon Fresh—the grocery delivery service exclusive to Prime members—is also joining the sale with special deals. This service operates separately from Amazon’s Whole Foods chain.
