Amazon always tries to find workers willing to work extra because it helps them deal with staffing issues, and that’s where shift differential comes into play for hired employees.
Many employees at Amazon used to work overtime to meet their needs or to overcome workload; these extra hours are called shift differential.
The company pays between $0.50 to $2.00 additional per hour as a shift differential, depending on the job position and work burden.
For better understanding, we have discussed below what is the shift differential at Amazon and how they pay it to their employees.
Shift Differential at Amazon
Amazon pays shift differential to their employees according to the extra time they work in the warehouse. However, the rate can vary with the job title, responsibilities, and shift timings.
The operations at Amazon never stop; being the leading E-commerce platform, the staff work in four variable shifts.
- Early Morning Shift: This shift starts at 4:00 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. local time.
- Day Shift: The second one begins at 4:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. local time.
- Night Shift: The night shift starts at 10:00 p.m. and ends at 5:00 a.m. this shift is usually more highly paid than the morning and day ones.
- Weekend Shifts: These are paid the highest among all, and you can start at 7:30 p.m. Friday and close any time before 6:00 p.m. Sunday.
Let’s see what shift differential Amazon pays on the above-mentioned working slots.
According to Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the employer and the employee (or the employee’s agent) must come to an agreement about overtime pay for working on the weekends or at night.
1. Shift Differential for Morning Shifts
The shift differential at amazon for morning shifts is the lowest; it ranges between $0.5 to $0.75 extra per hour worked in addition to regular hours. However, for working students and part-timers, it is a value-added compensation.
2. Shift Differential for Daytime Shifts
Amazon pays $1 extra per hour worked in the warehouse as a daytime shift differential, which is a good incentive for someone struggling to earn money.
For example, Amazon pays roughly $17 hourly to a full-time worker, and if he completes an eight hours shift with two extra hours, they will pay him $17 x 8 = 136 + $18 x 2 = $172 for the day.
3. Shift Differential for Night Shifts
Amazon pays a healthy shift differential when it comes to night shifts. They pay around $1.5-2 additional per hour if worked overtime.
Moreover, the regular hourly wage of the employee on a night shift is also more remarkable than the day and morning ones.
The average yearly salary for a night shift Amazon warehouse team member in the United States as of January 5, 2023, is $35,617.
4. Shift Differential for Weekend Shifts
People who usually work on Saturdays and Sundays are students who want to support themselves and their studies, so Amazon pays the highest shift differential for the weekend shifts.
You may get up to $2-3 extra per hour on the weekends if you work more than the working hours.
You can avail of shift differential boost at Amazon regardless of the timings. However, you first have to complete your regular duty and ask for permission from your supervisor to work extra hours.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what is the shift differential at Amazon and how much extra you can earn by working overtime in different shifts.
Amazon tries to facilitate employees as much as possible, which is why their sales and growth are emerging daily because a satisfied worker performs twice compared to an unhappy one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Negotiate Shift Differential at Amazon?
Certainly not; you cannot negotiate the shift differential at Amazon because it is a massive company with pre-defined wage slab rates for overtime.
What Is the Difference Between PTO and Shift Differential at Amazon?
Paid Time Off (PTO) is entirely different from the shift difference at Amazon. When you work overtime in replacement of your vacation hours before going on leave is known as PTO. While shift differential is the boost in hourly rate when you work extra from your fixed duty.
Does Shift Differential Apply to PTO?
Yes, shift differential also applies on PTO; for example, if you take a leave of 20 hours and work for 22 hours later to replace them, the shift differential will be applied to the extra time you worked.
What Is the Highest Shift Differential at Amazon?
The highest shift differential that Amazon pays is $2.5-3 extra per hour, but in normal circumstances, it ranges between $0.5-3.
Is It Easy To Change Shifts at Amazon?
Amazon lets you choose the shift timings; you can decide whether working in the morning suits you or at night. Moreover, you can also work in two shifts consecutively.
