A letter to employees seen by CNBC offers Amazon grocery-picking gig workers positions as Whole Foods store employees.
The e-commerce behemoth is reorganising its vast grocery division to accommodate rising internet orders. Some former gig workers fear they won’t have the same freedom as shop employees.
However, the Covid-19 outbreak has made one thing very clear: consumers no longer want to wander the supermarket aisles.
The rest of the industry has caught on. With Walmart, ShopRite, Albertsons, and apps like Instacart and DoorDash increasing their food delivery rivalry, Amazon is looking to streamline its processes.
According to a letter seen by CNBC, Amazon reminded gig workers who fetch items for delivery that they’ll soon be working for Whole Foods. Instead of gig employment, workers will become full-time Whole Foods employees with longer shifts.
“To better serve our team and customers, we will shift Amazon’s online food fulfilment operations to Whole Foods Market by the end of the year,” the letter states. “Most stores will transition slowly.”
A Whole Foods representative confirmed that the shoppers will become workers by year’s end.
Whole Foods recently issued a job description stating that schedules will be established up to three weeks in advance. A recent job posting for an Amazon shopper mentions “shift flexibility” and “work as little as four hours a week” as benefits.
In addition to two supermarket chains, convenience stores and fashion stores, Amazon has been working to streamline its groceries and physical retail operations. In 2017, Amazon spent $13.7 billion to buy Whole Foods.
