Amazon tells warehouse employees to return to work or request leave

Amazon which gave its warehouse employees unlimited unpaid time off during the coronavirus pandemic in the month of April has now asked them to return to work starting May 1. Those who still wish to stay home can use regular accrued time off or request a leave of absence.

According to a report in NPR.org, Amazon was one of the few companies to extend unlimited, though unpaid, time off to its workers who are declared essential during the health crisis.

In an updated statement on Friday, Amazon said it has extended the increased hourly pay bump of $2 an hour through May 16.

“We are also extending double overtime pay in the US and Canada. These extensions increase our total investment in pay during COVID-19 to nearly $700 million for our hourly employees and partners,’ the ecommerce giant said in a statement.