Amazon to Cut Bonuses, Stock Benefits as It Raises Wages

Amazon to Cut Bonuses, Stock Benefits as It Raises Wages
Amazon opens a new store where everything for sale is rated 4 stars and above, is a top seller, or is new and trending on Amazon.com in SoHo neighborhood of New York on September 27, 2018. (Jim Watson/Getty Images)
The Associated Press
10/3/2018
Updated:
10/3/2018

Amazon made a big splash this week with its $15 an hour minimum wage announcement, but lost in the fine print was this statement: “Existing warehouse workers will no longer receive stock in the company or collect bonuses.”

The online giant says next month it will end bonuses, which paid workers extra based on their attendance and warehouse productivity, as it boosts its minimum wage.

Amazon will also phase out its restricted stock unit program, which gave shares to workers if they stayed with Amazon for a certain amount of years. Amazon says it will replace it with a program next year that will allow workers to buy stock, but didn’t provide details.

Amazon.com Inc. says “compensation will be more immediate and predictable” with the changes.

The company said its other benefits, such as 401(k) retirement accounts and health insurance, were not changed.

By Joseph Pisani