Equipment, prevention, new services: Amazon innovates and invests to offer its employees a comprehensive approach to health, safety and well-being at work.
On top of these investments, Amazon has dedicated more than 1 million working hours to risk reduction and safety trainings for employees.
Amazon announced that since 2021 it has invested €11 million in specific projects geared toward improving safety and well-being for its employees in France. As well as investing in new technologies, equipment, supplies and medical care, the company has dedicated over 1 million working hours to improving site safety, including risk reduction processes and training for employees. Anyone can learn more about the technologies that enhance safety and ergonomics by joining virtual tours offered at Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
“Amazon has over 15,500 permanent employees in France and their health and safety is a top priority. We are constantly evaluating ways to further improve safety measures in our facilities. In fact, we strive to offer each of them the best and safest workplace. That’s why we continue to invest in advanced technologies, trainings and offering access to new services that contribute to the safety and well-being of our people – right across our business.”
David Lewkowitz
Director of Amazon Customer Fulfillment in France
Over 1 million work hours dedicated to safety since 2021
Since 2021, Amazon has dedicated more than 1 million working hours to safety, through risk reduction projects and training. To support this, Amazon employs more than 130 safety professionals at its French logistic sites and more than 1,100 employees are trained as first-aid rescue workers.
Advanced technologies improving safety and ergonomics at Amazon’s workplaces
In 2021, Amazon unveiled its European Operations Innovation Lab, designed to enhance the employee experience through the development of advanced technologies that support safer ways of working. Many of these innovations have already been introduced at Amazon sites in France, including automatic sorting stations that reduce repetitive gestures, palletizing robots and vacuums that lift heavy loads, automated drive units that bring items directly to employees, and many more. Innovations are regularly added to enhance employees’ hearing comfort on-site or to introduce new handling equipment that improves safety. In addition, Amazon works closely with health and safety experts and scientists, conducts safety inspections each day in its buildings, and makes changes based on employees’ feedback to continuously improve their wellbeing at work.
New mental health services for all employees in France and their family members
We strongly believe that mental health and well-being are just as important as physical health. That’s why Amazon recently launched ‘Workplace Options’, a new Employee Assistance Program for Amazon employees and their family members. Workplace Options provides access to free, confidential, virtual, in-person support 24/7. On-demand support for employees and their families includes:
- Major life events – Professional counselors can help manage emotions during pregnancy, parenthood, adoption, marriage and cohabitation, separation, divorce, relocation, grief, and more.
- Mental health support – Professional counselors will provide free, confidential support for depression, stress, anxiety, relationships, substance-use disorders, domestic violence, and more.
- Everyday living – Life is busy and employees can get advice on everyday tasks, including support for child care, elder care, work-life integration, workplace pressures, change, and more.
- Financial matters – Employees will be able to get free phone consultations for financial issues, including retirement, budgets, debt, and other money management situations.
Hybrid return to the office
During the pandemic, we adapted our workplaces to keep our employees safe at all times. As employees progressively returned back to the office, instead of prescribing how many days or which days people should work in the office, we opted for a hybrid mode. It is up to Directors to determine the most effective organization with their senior leaders and teams. Our Paris offices have also evolved to reflect these new ways of working, by offering multiple working areas, flex offices, and no-work zones with dedicated space for fun, relaxation and sports activities.
Over 20 years of investment in France
Over the past two decades, we have established a strong relationship with tens of millions of customers in France. To better serve them, Amazon invested more than 11 billion euros in our French activities between 2010 and 2020. During this period Amazon has become one of the main job creators in France, with 15,500 permanent employees reflecting the diversity of the French society we serve every day. At the beginning of the year, Amazon confirmed the creation of 3,000 additional permanent contracts in 2022. For the third year in a row, Amazon has received the Top Employer certification, which recognizes the quality of the workplace and the talent programs offered to Amazon employees.
