Amazon expands worker flexibility, adds more employee resources

Amazon is expanding the benefits it offers employees.

Amazon is adding new benefits to its FamilyFlex program that provides flexible scheduling and resources for employees and their family members. Introduced in November 2021, the program initially provided a slate of resources including pregnancy and parental leave,  adoption assistance and, in select positions, the ability to swap shifts and create custom schedules.

Now, Amazon is providing 14 new FamilyFlex benefits and resources to employees in four key areas: finance, mental health, cancer care, and scheduling. 

Finance

• Amazon is currently piloting Brightside, a free and confidential provider of financial solutions such as debt reduction/consolidation and spending plan creation, in 12 states. Employees are also able to open a Brightside savings account with a current Annual Percentage Yield of 4.33%, above the national average of.042%.
• Resources for Living (RFL) is Amazon’s employee- ssistance program that offers all employees, along with their families and household members, a free 30-minute consultation for each financial issue they’d like to discuss. For example, employees and their families can get help to create a budget, manage debt, prepare tax returns, or plan for retirement. Employees who use RFL also have access to financial articles and calculators, can undergo a financial assessment, can receive free legal consultations from an attorney, and have access to free identify theft support.

• MetLife works with Amazon to offer all employees based in the U.S. 30 days of free estate planning each year. Employees can access free digital estate planning tools to create a will, advance directive, and durable financial power of attorney. The benefits include discounted rates on legal advice and fully covered legal services for personal legal matters including wills and estate planning, real estate matters, and family law.
• Amazon offers a new charitable giving benefit through the Fidelity Charitable Giving Account that makes it easier for employees to support causes. The Giving Account is a donor-advised fund, which is similar to a charitable investment account that can help donors make more of their charitable gifts. Employees can give cash, publicly traded stock, private business shares, and other assets through the program to qualify for tax savings and support their favorite causes.
• Amazon has created an emergency savings program, which lets employees choose to set aside a portion of their paycheck automatically each pay period and have access to the funds when they are needed.

Mental health

• Amazon is also partnering with Brightline to offer all employees in the U.S. added support for everyday mental health challenges many children and teens experience. The benefit allows for five free sessions per pediatric mental health issue per year, regardless of benefits enrollment status.
• Employees are now eligible to receive five free general counseling sessions,per issue,  every year, through RFL. These include self-guided programs, mental health coaching, and virtual counseling.
• Employees have free access to mental health care 24/7 through a new partnership with the self-guided digital mental health app Twill. Twill also provides mood tracking, science-backed games, and activities designed to help employees and their family members work through negative thoughts, build confidence, and manage stress.
• Amazon has launched a new partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a grassroots mental health organization. The partnership is focused on building enhanced access to community-based family and peer support services for Amazon employees.

Cancer care

Amazon signed the Working with Cancer pledge to provide a supportive workplace culture for employees with cancer. In addition, Amazon has expanded its cancer-related benefits for employees and family members, including:

• The Amazon Cancer Advocacy, Resources, Education, and Support (CARES) program provides high-touch, one-to-one support for employees and employee family members who have been diagnosed with cancer..
• Employees and family members can also use benefits partner AccessHope to receive an expert evaluation from a center of care. As part of Amazon’s travel and lodging benefit, airfare, lodging, and ground transportation for an employee or family member (and a loved one) is covered and coordinated through AccessHope. For those unable to travel, or those who choose not to, a virtual option is also available. Employees or family members can choose to get a remote expert opinion that includes a written report and conversation with a doctor.

Scheduling

• Amazon expanded its temporary schedule adjustments program to allow extra flexibility for all hourly employees in our customer fulfillment and transportation businesses facing education-related needs, going through a personal hardship, or who need to change their schedule to accommodate their religious practice. A temporary school schedule adjustment policy enables employees to request a shift or schedule adjustment as school-related needs arise, including formal courses of study that are eligible under the Career Choice program tuition benefit;.
• A new hardship schedule adjustment allows an employee to temporarily work less than a full-time schedule or transfer to a schedule that allows time to make arrangements in their personal life so as not to conflict with their work schedule.
• As part of the temporary schedule adjustment program at Amazon, employees are able to request an accommodation for religious observances as needed.