Amazon.com
Amazon Chooses PRIDE Industries as the First to Join its Alternative Workforce Supplier Program
Amazon.com delivers almost a million packages to people’s front doorsteps every day and is known for its fast delivery. Achieving this quick turnaround requires hundreds of dedicated and motivated employees to sort and pack items accurately, making staffing a crucial function for the company.
Situation
As part of its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Amazon launched the Alternative Workforce Supplier Program (AWSP) in 2016. This innovative staffing initiative is tailored to meet the needs of individuals who have traditionally faced obstacles to entering and advancing in the workplace.
To meet its ambitious DEI goals, Amazon sought organizations in each geographical market who had expertise in recruiting, assessing, and supporting people with disabilities. More importantly, they needed companies with a track record of filling roles in a high-volume environment like Amazon’s.
Solution
- Amazon chose PRIDE Industries as its first nonprofit agency (NPA) to quickly scale its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative – the Alternative Workforce Supplier Program.
- PRIDE Industries was chosen for our decades of experience and longstanding relationship with the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).
- As an AbilityOne®provider, PRIDE Industries hires, trains, and continuously supports employees who have significant disabilities.
- We developed assessments, job counseling, and job simulations at a mock warehouse for screening candidates.
- We created a specialized team of Job Coaches and Employment Relationship Coordinators who were responsible for training, coaching, and supporting over 300 new team members, 90% of whom had a disclosed disability.
- Given our results, the initial contract was expanded to include 12 Amazon PRIME Now sites.
- When Amazon eventually chose to bring its AWS program in-house, they adopted PRIDE Industries training methods developed for their warehouses.
Services Provided
- Interviews of candidates referred by local partners
- Assessment of candidate skills and interests
- Help with the coordination of employee transportation to job sites
- Reviews of employment soft skills, such as punctuality and communication
- Employee training for jobs such as Associate, Yard Hostler, and Water Spider, for both Sortation and PRIME Now warehouses
Results
Through its partnership with PRIDE Industries, Amazon.com was able to make a positive social impact without sacrificing business excellence:
- Amazon achieved its goal of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce.
- Hundreds of individuals with disabilities were successfully employed and received continuous on-the-job support.
- The productivity level of employees with disabilities consistently met or exceeded average site productivity levels.
- Because PRIDE Industries exceeded its contract requirements, Amazon asked PRIDE Industries to extend its services beyond California into two additional sites in Nevada.
“PRIDE Industries has been a fantastic partner in helping Amazon hire people with disabilities. We are excited to hire more talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, and our partnership with PRIDE Industries helped us expand this goal.”
Highlights
304
people with disabilities placed
Contract expansion
to 12 Amazon PRIME Now sites
Sites served
California & Nevada
“PRIDE Industries has been a fantastic partner in helping Amazon hire people with disabilities. We are excited to hire more talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, and our partnership with PRIDE Industries helped us expand this goal.”
