Jeff Bezos labelled a Covid-19 ‘super spreader’ over Amazon sick pay policy

Amazon boss Jeff Bezos could cover two weeks’ paid sick leave for all Amazon employees with less than 1 per cent of his personal fortune, new data claims.

Global consumer group SumOfUs estimated that it would cost $1.04 billion (£830 million) for the company’s entire global workforce of 798,000 people to take two weeks’ paid leave — a fraction of the Amazon founder’s $140bn (£112bn) reported net worth.

The claim comes in the week when hundreds of Amazon staff took strike action to protest various issues around the company’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including limited sick pay.

Other concerns include a lack of protective equipment and poor warehouse cleaning practices.

Cases of Covid-19 have been reported in over half of Amazon’s US warehouses, and one worker has already died in California.

We shouldn’t have to feel this afraid of going to work so we can keep food on our tables.

Amazon is risking our health and the safety of our families. We deserve better!

What is it like to work during this pandemic? Share your story with us: https://t.co/CIyuGiT52Ypic.twitter.com/8UNjhrzD4s

— United for Respect (@forrespect) April 28, 2020

Amazon has revised its sick leave policy in light of Covid-19, with workers who test positive for the virus or told to quarantine by a medical professional receiving up to two weeks of paid leave.

However, difficulties in accessing tests coupled with official health guidelines advising people to stay home and self-isolate if they show mild symptoms present challenges to this policy.

Such challenges have resulted in SumOfUs campaigner Vicky Wyatt labelling Bezos — the world’s richest man — a coronavirus “super spreader”.

Wyatt said: “Jeff Bezos is the ultimate super spreader. His refusal to offer proper sick pay leaves Amazon employees with no choice but to turn up to work sick.

Two weeks of paid sick leave for all Amazon employees would cost less than 1% of CEO @JeffBezos fortune! That's why SumOfUs members are demanding one of the richest man alive offer #paidsickleave NOW: https://t.co/rmL1JxxpjJ

— Ekō (@Eko_Movement) April 29, 2020

“Bezos would rather protect his profit margin than his workers. He is raking in $11,000 a second from the safety of his mansion, while warehouse staff and delivery drivers risk their lives to keep his business running.”

Elsewhere, one Amazon employee who this week called in sick as part of a co-ordinated worker protest told The Guardian: “We are calling out because Amazon is putting its revenue above our safety. We are not essential to them – they just think of us as numbers and quotas. They are not protecting our health.”

These measures include over 150 process updates – from enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures to new efforts like disinfectant spraying – and the distribution of personal protective gear, such as masks.

The company has also implemented disinfectant spraying and temperature checks across its operations worldwide.