Amazon hiring 50,000 temps this holiday season

In cash-strapped California, sales tax on Amazon orders is expected to bring in $83 million in the next year. / CBS News

SEATTLE Amazon.com Inc. says it's hiring 50,000 temporary workers at order-fulfillment centers across the U.S. this holiday season.

The Seattle-based online retailer says it expects "thousands" of those it hires to stay on full time.

Full-time workers get stock grants and benefits. The company says its full-time employees make 30 percent more than traditional retail employees. It says stock grants have added an average 9 percent to base pay over the last five years.

• Holiday hiring predicted to be best in 5 years

Tuesday's announcement follows hiring announcements from other major retailers.

Among them: Macy's Inc. plans to hire 80,000 seasonal workers, while Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to add 50,000. Toys R Us Inc. plans to hire 45,000 seasonal workers this year, and Kohl's nearly 53,000.

[Watcher9734]

I work 13.5 hours three days a week and about 24 hours of overtime after that. Warehouse work isn't bad money if you can handle it. Beats retail... good exercise and no crappy customers.

[john92021]

these wage slave jobs shouldn't even be considered employment. You need to live next door because you can't afford a car, gas, insurance to go there or you could live in your car outside the gate.

[pedalit]

between now and christmas you'll see tv news stories of rv'ing temp workers traveling from hundreds of miles away to live in the parking lots of amazon and affiliate warehouses. just like last year...and the year before...and...

but hey, if obama now says the economy's improving, it will be an illusion this time around, right? the lack of reaction i'm getting from employment inquiries says NOTHING's improving

[MesrianiLawGroup]

Wow, that's good mews for those who are looking for employment opportunities.

[hypnotoad72]

Lots of companies hire temp jobs for the major holiday season.

Of course, as more brick and mortar competition goes bye-bye, there will be less need for staff because, surprisingly, there will be fewer workers with money to spend.

[boatingman]

I guess they must do something with the "TAX Dollars" they claim they must collect.

[jlbish83]

WOW!!! They expect you to work and do a good job.

[hypnotoad72]

So why don't you stop bleating and try it... then you'll understand.

P.S. Since I suspect you hate socialism (despite liking slave labor), try this out for size:

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/how-corporations-are-crippling-us-prosperity/2633?tag=nl.e660

[pedalit]

i was hired a few years back in november as a temp for an in-house contractor at an amazon warehouse. I was on my feet for 10 hours/day (4 day work week), and constantly had to meet performance standards (so many packages/hour, and only so many mistakes allowed, for example). most were let go shortly after the new year. only a handful of the top performers were kept on and not until around august were then hired for permanent positions for amazon itself. i didn't survive for nearly that long.

good luck to all those who try...bring a strong, flexible back and legs!

[Lerianis4]

Sounds like Amazon is expecting too much from most people. So many mistakes allowed? People are not ********* robots, they do make mistakes.

So many packages an hour? Should take into account how many items and of what size are being put into the boxes.

10 hours a day? Too long. I'd more be looking at 8 hours a day working 5 days a week or 6 3/4 hours working 6.

I worked at a warehouse doing that 10 hours a day and I'll be blunt: Too long to be on your feet and up, especially when some people have to drive home 30 minutes each way.