Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

AutomationLatest NewsGig economyFreelance workers

Amazon offers workers thousands to set up own delivery businesses

by Jo Faragher 14 May 2019
by Jo Faragher 14 May 2019 Peter Steffen/DPA/PA Images
Peter Steffen/DPA/PA Images

Amazon is offering its employees thousands of pounds in funding to set up independent delivery businesses.

The company has said it will offer fulfilment centre employees a grant equivalent to three months’ salary. This is around £5,000 for a full-time worker on Amazon’s £9.50 per hour wage outside London.

Delivery and worker status

Amazon delivery firms in employment status fight

Freelancer platforms add to global work insecurity 

The offer has also been put forward to its US employees, who can apply for up to $10,000 in start-up costs if they are accepted into the programme and leave their jobs, as well as three months’ pay.

Most part-time and full-time Amazon employees will be eligible, including warehouse workers who pack and ship orders, the company said.

The aim is to boost the company’s delivery capacity to keep up with growing demand, and employees will receive training as well as funds.

Amazon said it would take an “active role” in helping employees launch their own package delivery businesses.

It said: “An employee will leave their role at Amazon to build their business knowing they will have consistent delivery volume from Amazon, access to the company’s sophisticated delivery technology, hands-on training, and discounts on a suite of assets and services, including Amazon-branded vans customised for delivery, branded uniforms and comprehensive insurance.”

It’s hoped the company can further reduce delivery times for its Prime service, which generally ships packages with 24 hours of being ordered.

Doug Gurr, Amazon’s UK country leader, said: “We are excited to launch an initiative to help make the dreams of employees who have always wanted to run their own business come true. Customer demand is higher than ever and we have a need to build more delivery capacity.”

The company – which has come under fire from unions over conditions in its fulfilment centres – recently introduced a number of benefits for employees, including a career guidance programme offering up to £8,000 in skills training.

Last year, however, the GMB union announced it would take legal action against three Amazon delivery firms over their classification of drivers as self-employed, arguing that Amazon controlled their shift patterns and that the workers were treated like employees in terms of hours, so should therefore be granted the same rights as permanent colleagues.

Carl Reader, chairman of business advisory firm d&t, said any potential legal issues would come down to the nature of these roles.

He said: “It comes down to the level of autonomy that they have, whether the individuals share in risk and reward of running a business, rights of substitution and mutuality of obligation. It’s a nuanced minefield with no definitive answer. The likelihood is that it will only ever be determined by a legal case.”

Employee relations opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more Employee Relations jobs

Amazon
Jo Faragher
Jo Faragher

Jo Faragher has been an employment and business journalist for 20 years. She regularly contributes to Personnel Today and writes features for a number of national business and membership magazines. Jo is also the author of 'Good Work, Great Technology', published in 2022 by Clink Street Publishing, charting the relationship between effective workplace technology and productive and happy employees. She won the Willis Towers Watson HR journalist of the year award in 2015 and has been highly commended twice.

previous post
Unemployment lowest since 1974 as candidate shortages bite
next post
ECJ: Employers must ensure staff are not overworking

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Autistic police officer rejected from firearms course wins...

11 Dec 2023

Nationwide: almost 500 head office jobs at risk

11 Dec 2023

Oxfam workers suspend first ever strike

11 Dec 2023

Minister encourages employers to offer ‘midlife MOTs’ to...

11 Dec 2023

How to avoid creating ‘accidental managers’

11 Dec 2023

Strikes: Mayors pledge to avert use of work...

9 Dec 2023

Rejoice! Be merry! The season of HR warnings...

8 Dec 2023

Weak economic outlook slows hiring decisions

8 Dec 2023

Civil servants campaign for four-day week

8 Dec 2023

Oxfam workers begin first-ever strike

8 Dec 2023

  • How to spot and tackle imposter syndrome in the workplace PROMOTED | Half of all UK adults...Read more
  • BetterMe for Business: How to Build Wellness Culture at Work PROMOTED | Ever encountered a...Read more
  • Global growth with simple HR compliance (webinar) WEBINAR | In an increasingly global marketplace...Read more
  • Talent acquisition: How AI can complement a ‘back to basics’ approach PROMOTED | Artificial intelligence is now...Read more
  • What will it mean to be an HR professional in 2024? (webinar) WEBINAR | As we approach 2024...Read more
  • HR Budget Planning for 2024: Preparing your People Strategy PROMOTED | As organisations continue to adapt...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+