Amazon associate at Fresno, California fulfillment center
Dear Senator Sanders,
I voted for you in the Presidential Primary Election because I appreciate your vision for our nation (especially with regard to higher learning). One thing that you did in your race was to make an appearance on Bill Maher's show when the others did not show up. You were concise and focused on your vision. Well done sir! However, I am not writing to just gush as a fan. I am writing to you today as a proud "Amazonian." I have been employed full time with Amazon at the new FAT-1 Amazon Fulfillment Center in Fresno, CA since it opened in June 2018. My family has been through a tough road in these past several years. My husband of 22 years and I have become empty nesters after our 9th child left the nest last year. At that time I began seeking employment after years away from the job world. Having put off completing my higher learning degree, opting instead for a certificate in a job path I am no longer interested in, I had few options. Until Amazon built a Fulfillment Center in my home town, Fresno, CA. Let me tell you, I had reservations! Reservations based on some of the same incorrect rumors you have probably heard. Amazon has blessed me with more than I could have dreamed of!
Over the years, I have read news articles on the working conditions at Amazon facilities. These scared me quite frankly when I was faced with the decision to apply for employment with them. But, I really needed to obtain employment so I mustered up all my courage and went through the application process. Drum roll please... Yes, I got the job. The offer said it is full time and to expect long 10 hour days. As the dread feeling entered my 47 year old heart, kind of shook my head and told myself, "See, I guess those news reports were right". I reasoned with myself that I should just give it a try just to see how true it all is and then I could find another place to work having gained the truth about Amazon. I then attended the orientation.
During the orientation, I took notes vigorously to see if they were somehow planning to skirt the law at my expense regarding their long hours and other conditions. I found out AMAZON IS FOR THE CUSTOMER, "CUSTOMER CENTRIC", they said. This just thrilled me as a person who loves making people happy. Their mission and my personal ethos are congruent. That kept me interested and moving forward in the new hire process. The orientation gave everyone up-front pros and cons of working there. The pros first and foremost... I would be an owner of Amazon. I didn't know how much my one share would be worth but someone said they thought it was at $17. I thought, "It is not worth much but it's a nice idea on their part". As you may know that one share is worth $2,000. That is valued higher than Microsoft, Google, or Facebook! Over time it will be part of my future stability and I will be given more as time and promotions go on! They spoke of hourly wages and possibly working 4 10 hour days per week. During off season we'd have 3 days off. During Prime Week and the busy season we would have to work an extra 10 hour day. I began to feel overwhelmed at that prospect. Then the worst part in my mind at that time was said, "There are no chairs at Amazon". Did I mention my age? I am 47, my longest employment was as a counselor sitting on chairs and couches. I feared my body would not be able to be subjected to such treatment. Then they spoke of employee benefits. We get full medical, vision, and dental coverage from our very first day. I needed to go to a decent physician, dentist, and my eye doctor. I have found Medicaid severely lacking in my state (But that's another topic). I needed it so much, I stayed. A benefit they spoke of made me have a small change of heart. EDUCATION! Amazon pays 95% of tuition and books if I give them 1 year of my time. They don't even mind if I want to become a Registered Nurse. As long the Dept. of Labor says the job is in demand, Amazon pays! I went through the final steps of the hiring process scoured through the Employment Agreement for any lurking ill intention they may have in store for me, finding none, I became an official Amazonian!
My next challenge was getting to work. I do not drive. I live in Fresno, they are here too. The problem is that we are on opposite ends leaving me a 30 minute commute. Amazon offered this benefit to all employees. A carpool app who they partnered with to provide us free rides to and from work. We were given 30 days to enroll in our benefits of choice. I found out there are so many options, it took almost all 30 days to get through them all and to finalize my decisions.
On my "Day One" working there I began training to my position. Being a new facility, my trainer was an Amazonian Learning Ambassador from Texas. She trained myself and 2 other people thoroughly on the details of the job. She worked with us for several weeks until we performed our job accurately. Amazon is all about safety they seem to strive to ensure we leave work in the same shape we came in. They actually tell us that. However, to date, they have exceeded their goal with me. I have lost weight and am in the best shape I have possibly ever been in! Aside from the long distances we walk because the facility is so large, I also have a job that gives me a great workout. I do have expectation that I have to meet but any type of job in this type of industry does. If I were to fall short there is no one there to scold me. I have seen others who we not meeting these expectations and our managers simply give them help to bring them up. They really go the extra distance in helping to mentor, coach, and give opportunities to us. They all can do our jobs so they fill in for people if they need to take a bathroom break. There has been a lot said about bathroom breaks on the news. I believe some fellow Amazonians who are still in the human development stage of life try and test out if they can use the restroom when they are supposed to be working. Managers or Process Assistants always fill in for them without any question. It is not frowned upon. Which brings me to the respect that our managers give all of us. I have not witnessed or heard anything different, we are all treated with the greatest respect. If they do have to "speak to you" about something, it does not feel like you are in trouble. You leave them saying, "Thank you" because they may have corrected you but at the same time they have done it in an esteem-raising way.
I actually own part of Amazon, I am thrilled and quite relieved that all the rumors I had previously feared have not been true. I was able to stretch as required 2 times daily and prepare my body to handle standing. I adjusted to working full time.
Amazon gave us a raise already and at 6, 12, 18...months, we receive another. To me, Amazon has been a gift that keeps on giving. I am so grateful for this company. I am a proud Amazonite.
Deana