Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos went on the defensive during the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, CNBC reports.
The CEO defended the company’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. Amazon has faced backlash for being slow in its efforts to provide employees with personal protection equipment, temperature checks and other mitigation measures to keep employees safe while at work. Several Amazon warehouse employees have died from the virus.
Bezos said that the company took the threat of the virus “seriously from the very beginning” and acted quickly to protect workers.
The virtual meeting began with Bezos thanking Amazon’s warehouse workers and delivery employees.
“I am deeply grateful for each of you for the important work you are doing for customers,” Bezos said.
He said their efforts provided a “lifeline” for people who have been following stay-a-home orders.
And while there was no plan to formally discuss warehouse working conditions, the topic came up several times during the meeting.
He praised senior executives for their efforts during the pandemic saying “they’ve done a remarkable job.”
“I’m proud of the job the team has done there,” Bezos said.
He said the company has changed protocols to help slow the spread of the virus. Amazon is also “in the process” of building its own testing laboratories, with a goal of administering tests to warehouse workers across the country, he said.
Amazon showed videos of warehouse and delivery workers wearing face masks. One worker who appeared on screen said they were thankful that Amazon “went overboard on safety.”
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