Grocery Deliveries in California
California COVID-19 Food Sector Worker Paid Sick Leave
California has a new law that provides up to 14 days of paid sick leave to food sector workers who are affected by certain quarantine or stay at home requirements due to COVID-19. This paid sick leave, known as COVID-19 Food Sector Worker Paid Sick Leave, applies to Amazon Flex Delivery Partners who specifically perform grocery deliveries.
COVID-19 Food Sector Worker Paid Sick Leave can only be used for one of the following three reasons:
1. If you are subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
2. If you are advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine or self-isolate due to concerns related to COVID-19; or
3. If you are prohibited from working by Amazon due to health concerns related to the potential transmission of COVID-19.
More information on this new law can be found here.
If you think you qualify for, and wish to take paid sick leave, you can submit a request to Amazon Flex support by email at amazonflex-support@amazon.com.
The following information is required with your request:
• Your reason for requesting the sick leave (using at least 1 of reasons listed above)
• The specific dates for which you are requesting the sick leave
Please do not include or attach any personal medical documents.
Paid Sick Leave FAQs
What is COVID-19 Food Sector Worker Paid Sick Leave?
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, California has passed a new law providing 14 days of COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave to food sector workers. This COVID-19 Sick Leave may be taken only for certain COVID-19 related reasons. More information on the law and available COVID-19 Sick Leave is below and available on the State’s website here.
Who is eligible for COVID-19 Sick Leave?
Food sector workers are eligible for COVID-19 Sick Leave. Food sector workers include workers who perform work outside of their homes for a business that runs a food facility (including grocery stores and fast food restaurants) or deliver food from a food facility.Amazon Flex Delivery Partners who perform delivery services during Global Specialty Fulfillment (GSF) or Whole Foods Market blocks qualify as Food Sector Workers. Delivery Partners who only perform delivery services during AMZL blocks do not qualify as Food Sector Workers.
How can COVID-19 Sick Leave be used?
COVID-19 Sick Leave may be used only for one of the three following reasons:• If you are subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;• If you are advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine or self-isolate due to concerns related to COVID-19; or• If you are prohibited from working by Amazon due to health concerns related to the potential transmission of COVID-19.
How much COVID-19 Sick Leave can I use?
If you qualify as a Food Sector Worker under this law, you are entitled to 14 days of COVID-19 Sick Leave. For each day you take COVID-19 Sick Leave, you will be paid based on the average number of hours you spent each day performing food delivery services for Amazon prior to taking COVID-19 Sick Leave. For workers who perform 40 or more hours of food delivery services per week in the two weeks before using COVID-19 Sick Leave, they will be paid 8 hours for each day of COVID-19 Sick Leave.Workers who perform fewer than 40 hours of food delivery services per week in the two weeks before using COVID-19 Sick Leave will be paid based on their average daily hours. If you have performed services for Amazon for more than 14 days, your average daily hours are calculated by dividing the total number of hours you performed food delivery services for Amazon in the previous 6 months by the total number of days in that 6 month period. If you have performed services for Amazon for 14 days or less, your average daily hours are calculated by diving the total number of hours you performed food delivery services for Amazon in that two week period by 14 days.
Do I accrue more COVID-19 Sick Leave once I used my balance?
No. COVID-19 Sick Leave is not accrued over time. Once you use all of your allotted COVID-19 Sick Leave, your balance will not be replenished.
When does my COVID-19 Sick Leave expire?
This law remains in effect until December 31, 2020. However, if the federal Family First Coronavirus Relief Act is extended, then COVID-19 Sick Leave will be extended so that it ends on the same date as that federal law.
How do I request COVID-19 Sick Leave?
You may submit a request by email Amazon Flex support at amazonflex-support@amazon.com with the following information:• Your reason for requesting the sick leave (using at least 1 of reasons listed above)• The specific dates for which you are requesting COVID-19 Food Sector Worker Paid Sick LeavePlease do not include or attach any personal medical documents.
If I request or take COVID-19 Sick Leave, does that make me an Amazon employee?
No. The COVID-19 Sick Leave has no impact on your relationship with Amazon. You continue to be an independent contractor as outlined in the Amazon Flex Independent Contractor Terms of Service that you and Amazon agreed to before you began performing delivery services for Amazon.
Am I entitled to any other employee benefits?
No. Because your relationship with Amazon is as an independent contractor, and not an employee, you are not entitled to the same benefits as employees. This COVID-19 Sick Leave may be available to you as a Food Sector Worker because the law provides COVID-19 Sick Leave to workers regardless of whether they are independent contractors or employees.