The Benefits and Drawbacks of Part-Time Employees at Amazon

Amazon is known for its innovative and forward-thinking approach to human resources. Part-time employees at Amazon enjoy a range of benefits that are not always available in traditional employment. This article explores the benefits part-time employees at Amazon receive, compared to full-time employees, and what they may be working on in the future.

Benefits of Part-Time Employees at Amazon

Amazon offers part-time employees a unique set of benefits that cater to their specific needs. While part-time employees may not have all the benefits that come with full-time employment, the ones they do receive are quite generous and compelling. Here are some of the key benefits part-time employees at Amazon enjoy:

Diverse Health Insurance Benefits

Part-time employees at Amazon are provided with a wide range of health insurance benefits, including Dental, Vision, and Short-Term and Long-Term Disability coverage. They also receive Term Life Insurance totaling $25K and $500 per year to cover medical expenses, split into 52 paychecks. Additionally, they have Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance. Amazon even offers a special perk of 10% off on Amazon purchases, capping at $1,000.

Flexible Leave and Perks

Part-time employees enjoy 20 hours of unpaid time off per quarter. This combined with the numerous discounts and employee purchase programs available, such as free IMDb Pro, 30% off Sketchers, and a one-time payment for a non-subscription MS Office, makes their experience much richer. These perks and discounts are available to all part-time employees with an Amazon email address, adding to their overall satisfaction.

What Part-Time Employees Lack

While part-time employees at Amazon benefit from a variety of perks and health insurance programs, there are certain benefits that they do not receive, which full-time employees do. These include:

Vacation Time and Paid Time Off

Part-time employees do not get vacation time or paid time off. This is a stark contrast to the benefits offered to full-time employees. Additionally, they do not receive sick leave, which is a critical benefit for employees.

Retirement Plans

Full-time employees at Amazon have access to the 401K plan, which includes both traditional 401K and Roth 401K options. Part-time employees do not have this benefit, and they also can't increase the coverage on their Add-on Disablity (ADD) or Major Medical Hospital Insurance.

No Access to Restricted Stock Units or Special Bonuses

Fully employed Amazon employees also have the option to receive annually-granted restricted stock units, sign-on bonuses, and relocation expense packages. These benefits are not available to part-time employees.

What's in the Future for Part-Time Employees?

Amazon is continuously working on expanding their benefits package for all employees, including part-time workers. One area of focus is the potential addition of Group Long-Term Care, Group Homeowners or Condo/Renter's Insurance, and Group Auto Pet Insurance. These benefits are currently in the works and could be included in the future.

Conclusion

The benefits of being a part-time employee at Amazon are quite substantial. However, the lack of certain key benefits such as vacation time, paid time off, and retirement plans can be a drawback. As Amazon evolves, it is likely that more benefits will become available for part-time employees, ensuring even greater parity with full-time workers.

For those considering part-time employment at Amazon, it's important to weigh the benefits against the drawbacks and consider how these fit with your specific needs and goals.