Amazon Drops $230M into Whole Foods Employee Pay and Benefits
Amazon's plan to invest $230 million in its Whole Foods subsidiary has been announced. The investment aims to improve pay and benefits for over 100,000 employees at the grocery chain. This move comes after Amazon acquired Whole Foods in 2017 for a whopping $13.7 billion.
The hourly wage of Whole Foods' U.S. employees will increase to $21 an hour on September 28 this year and average out to $29 per hour when including benefits. Improved health, family, and financial support benefits will be available starting January 1, 2027, at a cost as low as $5 per week.
The investment is the largest of its kind since Amazon acquired Whole Foods. The new benefits package includes company-paid short- and long-term disability, fully paid parental leave of up to 20 weeks, dental and vision coverage for part-time employees, and free basic life insurance. In the future, employees will gain access to prepaid college tuition, skills training, and workplace certifications.