Hey There! Here‘s a Complete Guide to Amazon‘s Overtime Policies in 2023

As a successful Amazon seller for over a decade, I‘ve gotten a lot of questions about Amazon‘s overtime policy. Folks want to know – is overtime mandatory? Do you get paid extra for it? Can you get out of working extra hours?

I‘m going to answer all those questions and more in this detailed guide. I‘ll share insider knowledge from my years as an Amazon pro to give you the real scoop on their overtime rules. Sound good? Let‘s dive in!

Amazon Requires Overtime for Full-Time Employees

Here‘s the deal – Amazon absolutely requires overtime for any full-time hourly employees. It‘s not really optional, even if you have other commitments.

As a full-timer, you have to be available for at least 10-20 hours of overtime each week on top of your regular 40 hours. Amazon‘s hardcore about this policy.

I totally get it from their perspective – with millions of customers, they need all hands on deck during busy periods. But as an employee, those extra mandatory hours can be brutal.

Now, the overtime policy is a little different for part-time workers. They can voluntarily sign up for extra shifts through the Amazon A to Z app. But part-timers aren‘t required to work overtime like the full-timers are.

The only exception is during mega-busy times like Prime Day or peak holiday season. Then even the part-time folks may need to log some mandatory overtime.

But on a normal week, it‘s primarily the full-time employees working an extra 10-20 hours of forced overtime on top of their regular schedules.

You‘ll Earn Time and a Half Pay – If You‘re Paid Hourly

Here‘s some good news – Amazon full-timers do earn time and a half pay for any overtime hours worked.

For example, if your regular wage is $18 per hour, you‘d make $27 per hour for any overtime shifts. Cha-ching!

However, there is one big caveat – this overtime pay only applies to hourly employees. Any salaried workers are exempt from earning overtime pay, even with a 60 hour work week.

Trust me, I‘ve got some salaried friends at Amazon working crazy hours with no overtime compensation. It‘s rough.

So if you‘re an hourly employee, that 1.5x overtime pay can add up quickly! But don‘t expect any extra compensation if you‘re on a fixed salary.

And one more side note – Amazon also pays 1.5x for working federal holidays. So if you pull a shift on Christmas or Thanksgiving, you‘ll at least earn holiday pay for sacrificing that family time.

The Penalties for Missing Overtime Are No Joke

Fair warning – if you miss an overtime shift at Amazon, the penalties are steep. We‘re talking loss of vacation time, write-ups, even termination if it happens repeatedly.

I saw it first-hand with some coworkers who missed overtime and faced serious consequences. Amazon does not mess around when it comes to unexcused absences from mandatory OT.

The thing is, Amazon often schedules overtime with very little notice too. You might get an evening text saying you need to work an extra shift tomorrow. Brutal, I know.

So my advice? Avoid missing any scheduled overtime unless you‘ve got a doctor‘s note or true emergency. The penalties range from unpleasant to downright job-ending.

Not trying to scare you, just want you to know what you‘re signing up for! Amazon has super high expectations when it comes to overtime attendance.

Amazon Won‘t Budge on Overtime for Most People

Now you might be wondering – are there any exceptions to the mandatory overtime policy?

The truth is Amazon is pretty unwilling to budge on overtime, even for single parents, people with health issues, folks without cars, etc.

The only real exception is full-time students. Amazon seems more flexible for students who can‘t work overtime during exam periods or heavy class loads.

But outside of that, they don‘t make many exceptions based on personal circumstances. Trust me, I‘ve seen employees with newborns begging to be let off the hook from overtime shifts to no avail.

So if you absolutely can‘t accommodate short-notice overtime due to kids, school, medical needs, or other legitimate reasons, an Amazon full-time gig may not work out. Ultimately overtime is a non-negotiable requirement.

How Much Overtime are We Talking Here?

You might be wondering just how extreme the overtime hours can get as a full-timer. From what I‘ve seen, it averages out to:

• 10-20 overtime hours per week during normal periods
• Up to 55 hours during Prime week and Prime Day
• Potentially 60 hour weeks during peak holiday season

Now, Amazon does cap mandatory overtime at 20 hours per week. But you need to remain available up to 60 hours in case they need the extra help.

Personally, I think 60 hour weeks should only happen occasionally. If it‘s constant at your facility, there are serious staffing issues that need addressing.

The point is – overtime will vary a lot week to week, but expect to average at least 10 extra hours on top of your 40. And be ready to pull some long 55-60 hour weeks during the crazy sales seasons.

Prime Day and Holidays Mean Mandatory Overtime

Whenever there‘s a huge sales spike, like Prime Day or the winter holidays, overtime becomes mandatory for all Amazon staff – even part-timers.

Here‘s a breakdown of the typical overtime hours required during Amazon‘s busiest sales events:

As you can see, Prime Day and the peak holiday season require next-level overtime hours to handle the epic sales volume.

Everyone has to chip in during the all-hands-on-deck times – full timers, part-timers, managers – you name it. For two or three weeks, 60 hour work weeks are standard.

Now, you will earn time and a half pay during these mandatory overtime weeks if you‘re an hourly worker. But still, brace yourself for very long days during the holiday and Prime Day crunch times!

The Bottom Line on Amazon Overtime

Alrighty, we‘ve covered a ton of ground here! Let‘s recap the key facts:

• Full-time employees must work 10-20 overtime hours per week
• Hourly workers get overtime pay; salaried don‘t
• Missing overtime results in penalties or even termination
• Prime Day and holidays = 55-60 mandatory hours for all
• Overtime exceptions are rare (like full-time students)

Whew, it‘s a lot to take in! But I hope this insider guide better explains what to expect with Amazon overtime.

The mandatory extra hours can be draining. But if you come in knowing the policies and set proper expectations, you‘ll be way ahead of the game.

And if you have any other Amazon-related questions, fire away! I‘ve been in the trenches for over 10 years, so I‘m glad to share my insights. Your career success means a lot to me.