Amazon provides paid and unpaid time off options for employees needing to be absent from work. The specifics of Amazon’s absence policy depend on the type of leave, length of absence, and other factors. Understanding the various leave policies can help Amazon employees plan accordingly when needing time off.
Paid Time Off at Amazon
Amazon offers several types of paid time off to provide income protection when employees need to be away from work.
Vacation Time
Full-time Amazon employees receive paid vacation time that accrues over time. The amount of paid vacation time earned depends on length of service:
- Less than 1 year of service: Up to 2 weeks (80 hours) paid vacation per year
- 1+ years of service: Up to 3 weeks (120 hours) paid vacation per year
- 5+ years of service: Up to 4 weeks (160 hours) paid vacation per year
Part-time employees also accrue paid vacation time proportional to the number of hours they work. Employees begin accruing vacation time immediately upon starting at Amazon but cannot use vacation time until after 90 days of employment. Unused vacation time can be carried over from year to year up to certain limits.
Paid Sick Leave
Amazon offers paid sick leave to allow employees to take time off for personal illness, preventative care, and family care. Full-time employees receive up to 40 hours (5 days) of paid sick leave each year. Part-time employees receive paid sick leave proportional to their scheduled work hours. Paid sick leave renews annually and does not carry over year to year.
Paid Personal Time
In addition to vacation and sick leave, Amazon employees receive a total of 20 hours of personal paid time off per calendar year. This personal time can be used for any purpose, subject to manager approval and department scheduling needs. Unused personal time does not carry over at the end of the year.
Paid Holidays
Amazon observes six paid holidays each year:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Full-time and part-time employees are eligible for holiday pay if they have worked the scheduled day before and after the holiday. Holiday pay is calculated based on the employee’s regular base rate of pay.
Bereavement Leave
Amazon employees may take up to 3 days of paid bereavement leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. Immediate family members include spouses, domestic partners, parents, step-parents, children, step-children, siblings, step-siblings, grandchildren, grandparents, and in-laws.
Unpaid Time Off
In some circumstances, Amazon employees may be granted unpaid time off work.
Unpaid Personal Leave
Amazon offers unpaid personal leave of absence for qualified medical and non-medical reasons, such as:
- Recovering from extended illness or injury
- Caring for a family member with a serious health condition
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Military service
- Educational opportunities
Unpaid personal leave must be approved by Amazon management. The maximum leave period is 90 calendar days. Employees must use all available paid time off before taking unpaid leave.
Family and Medical Leave
Eligible employees may qualify for up to 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This leave can be used for reasons such as:
- Serious employee health condition
- Caring for an immediate family member with a serious health condition
- Bonding with a newborn or newly adopted child
To qualify for FMLA leave, employees must have worked for Amazon for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the prior year. Amazon requires employees to use any available paid time off concurrently with FMLA leave.
Military Leave
Amazon offers unpaid military leave beyond the 15 paid days per year for required military training and duty. Employees on military leave can keep health insurance benefits for up to 24 months and have job reinstatement rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
Occasional Absences
Amazon recognizes employees may need to be occasionally absent from work for reasons that do not qualify for paid or unpaid leave. These occasional absences are handled as follows:
- Planned absences – Employees should request the time off from their manager as far in advance as possible.
- Unplanned absences – Employees should notify their manager as soon as possible, per the site call-out procedures.
- Partial day absences – Employees should get approval from their manager for late arrivals or early departures.
Managers have discretion to approve or deny occasional absence requests based on business needs and schedule coverage. Excessive occasional absences not protected by leave policies may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Attendance Policy
Amazon expects employees to maintain regular and consistent attendance. The company tracks employee absences that are not protected by leave policies in a 12-month rolling period. Disciplinary actions may result from poor attendance, as outlined below:
| Absences in a 12-month Period | Disciplinary Action |
|---|---|
| 3 absences | Verbal warning |
| 4 absences | Written warning |
| 5 absences | Final written warning |
| 6 absences | Termination |
The attendance policy applies to any unexcused absences not covered by leave policies. Examples include:
- Unscheduled call-outs for reasons other than protected sick leave
- No call/no shows
- Repeated tardiness or unauthorized extended breaks
- Job abandonment (3 consecutive unexcused absences)
Before imposing discipline for attendance issues, managers will consider the reasons for absences and any applicable laws such as the ADA and FMLA. Employees will have the opportunity to explain absences and provide supporting documentation if relevant.
Reporting Absences at Amazon
Employees should follow their site-specific call-out procedures when reporting absences to their manager. This generally involves calling the designated absence reporting line and speaking with a manager directly. Some key tips for properly reporting absences include:
- Call as far in advance as possible, at least 1-2 hours before your shift.
- Provide the expected duration of your absence, if known.
- Explain the reason for your absence (personal illness, family emergency, etc.)
- Maintain contact with your manager if an absence lasts multiple days.
- Submit any required documentation supporting medical or other protected leaves.
Advance notice and clear communication allows Amazon to arrange schedule coverage and assists in managing absences appropriately.
Returning from Absence
Employees returning from an absence should check in with their manager upon arrival at work. Important items to review include:
- Any required return-to-work documentation if coming back from medical leave.
- Updated work schedule or shift changes that occurred.
- Catching up on any training, communications, or policies missed while absent.
The return-to-work conversation also allows the manager to welcome the employee back, provide any assistance needed transitioning back to the job duties, and confirm proper leave tracking and coding. Clear ongoing communication supports a positive return to work.
Job Protection
Time off under approved medical and personal leaves is job-protected under Amazon policy and applicable laws. This means the employee’s position will be held and they can return to the same job, or a similar position, at the end of the approved leave timeframe.
For occasional absences not covered by leave policies, the manager will make reasonable efforts to hold a job for an absent employee or return them to the same or similar position. However, excessive absences not protected under policy may result in job termination.
Benefits During Leave
Employee benefits are handled as follows during different types of absences:
| Leave Type | Benefit Treatment |
|---|---|
| Paid leave | Benefits continue as normal, premiums and contributions deducted from pay |
| FMLA leave | Health insurance continues, premium contributions required |
| Unpaid personal leave | May keep coverage by paying full premiums |
| Military leave | Option to continue health insurance up to 24 months |
| Occasional unpaid absences | Benefits unaffected for full-time employees |
HR will provide details on benefit continuation when approving any type of leave of absence. Employees should consult with HR regarding any benefits-related questions.
Attendance Issues and Disciplinary Process
Employee absences, late arrivals, and early departures are tracked and monitored by Amazon management. Excessive issues not covered by leave policies can result in discipline as outlined in Amazon’s standard disciplinary process:
- Verbal warning – Documented conversation regarding attendance issues.
- Written warning – Formal notice of continued attendance problems.
- Final warning – Last chance agreement outlining need for immediate improvement.
- Termination – Employment ends due to uncorrected attendance violations.
At each step, the employee will be able to explain mitigating circumstances and provide relevant documentation. Amazon aims to work with employees to resolve attendance problems prior to the final step of termination.
Absence Without Notice Terminations
In some cases, Amazon may terminate employment due to an absence without proper notice or job abandonment. Examples include:
- No call/no show for 3 consecutive days
- Failure to follow call-out procedures for absences
- Exceeding leave time and failure to return or communicate status
Before terminating for absences without notice, Amazon will attempt to contact the employee to understand the situation. However, employees who do not follow proper call-out procedures or maintain contact during an extended absence risk termination, even if the underlying reason for absence is eligible for leave.
Appealing Attendance Discipline
Employees who believe attendance discipline was unjust or unfair can appeal through Amazon’s standard open door process. This involves presenting concerns to successive levels of management such as:
- Immediate supervisor
- Department manager or associate relations partner
- HR manager/director
- General manager/senior operations manager
At each level, the employee can explain mitigating circumstances and provide documentation to support their case. Management will render a fair decision based on policy application. If the issue remains unresolved after exhausting the open door process, final appeal can be made to Amazon’s corporate Employee Relations team.
ADA Accommodations for Absences
Employees dealing with disabilities may request medical leave or attendance accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The process involves:
- Employee discloses disability to manager or HR.
- Employee requests reasonable accommodation related to absences.
- Amazon engages in interactive discussion about the request.
- Amazon renders decision on reasonable accommodation.
Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis considering the employee’s limitations and essential job duties. Examples may include more flexibility for medical appointments, shift changes, or additional unpaid medical leave beyond what policies allow.
State and Local Leave Laws
In addition to Amazon corporate policy, absence rules and protections may vary based on state and local jurisdiction. Employees should consult with HR to understand applicable federal, state, and local leave regulations.
Conclusion
Amazon offers a mix of paid and unpaid time off to provide income protection and job security when employees require time away from work. Understanding the policies, properly reporting absences, and communicating with managers facilitates appropriate leave use and attendance management. HR and management can assist employees in navigating Amazon’s absence policies and processes.