Amazon to hire 1,400 Virginians to meet order surge, donate $1M to Arlington nonprofits

The company will also add $2/hour to employees' current hourly rates through end of April.

Published March 18, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Amazon.com Inc. announced this week that it would add 100,000 full-time and part-time jobs to its United States fulfillment centers — with an expected 1,400 jobs added in Virginia — and will add $2 per hour worked through April for current employees.

“We also know many people have been economically impacted as jobs in areas like hospitality, restaurants, and travel are lost or furloughed as part of this crisis,” Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations and customer service, said in a statement. “We want those people to know we welcome them on our teams until things return to normal and their past employer is able to bring them back.”

Available jobs include shoppers who select and package Whole Foods products for one- or two-hour delivery; warehouse workers, Amazon Air airplane cargo loaders; and delivery drivers. Amazon purchased Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in June 2017.

“The vast majority of our employees around the world continue to come to work and serve the people in their communities in a way that very few can — delivering critical supplies directly to the doorsteps of people who need them,” Amazon spokesperson Courtney Norman says. “The safety of our employees is always our top priority and we have measures in place to ensure they are protected and supported during this time.”

Construction began earlier this year on Amazon’s $2.5 billion HQ2 in Arlington, which is expected to add 25,000 jobs and more than 8 million square feet of development in the Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard areas. On Wednesday, Amazon announced it donated $1 million in emergency COVID-19 response funds to four area community foundations—ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

“The Washington, D.C., area is our new home, and we must rally together to support our neighbors during this difficult time for our region and around the world,” Jay Carney, Amazon senior vice president of global corporate affairs, said in a statement.

Amazon has also created a $25 million Amazon Relief fund to support its independent delivery service partners and drivers, Amazon Flex participants — drivers who have flexible hours and create their own schedules — and seasonal employees.