Are you getting ready to start a job for Amazon?
This online retailing giant offers a wide range of different roles. This helps to make sure that people with all types of skills can find the perfect vacancy. Before you start a new job, it is important to know exactly what your salary is and when you will get paid. There are also likely to be a range of benefits that can boost your paycheck and quality of life.
If you are wondering, ‘what is UPT Amazon?’, then it’s time to find out…
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The Unpaid Personal Time Policy
At the start of each quarter, company employees are provided with twenty unpaid personal time hours. In theory, these days can be used up whenever employees need to take a personal day or just a few hours. This could be so that employees can make a dentist appointment or attend an important school event.
On the face of things, employees are allowed to arrange to take this time off work when they need to. However, it is important to note that salary is not provided when you take these hours off work. Employees who take time off work when they have no remaining unpaid personal hours are likely to face dismissal.
How Unpaid Personal Time Works
Tier-one employees are provided with twenty hours of unpaid personal time on the first day of each quarter. This adds up to a total of eighty unpaid personal hours each year. As employees advance through the company, they may be provided with additional unpaid personal time hours as a reward.
This UPT can be used at any point throughout the year when an employee needs a break. This includes the peak seasons for the company, such as during and around major holidays.
Use your time wisely…
However, it is only possible to bank a maximum of eight unpaid personal time hours. Employees who try to bank more than eighty hours will usually be terminated from their position.
When employees wish to use their unpaid personal time, they are charged Variable Compensation Pay. If employees abuse their unpaid personal time, Variable Compensation Pay will be deducted from their salary. Therefore, it is important to make sure you use your unpaid personal time wisely.
When You Can Use Unpaid Personal Time
Amazon’s unpaid personal time policy clearly states that employees can use these hours at any time they choose. However, the situation is slightly more complicated in reality.
It is necessary to apply to your supervisor for permission before taking these hours off work. Your supervisor may be reluctant to grant these hours if several other people have already applied for it.
Don’t make them question your commitment!
Therefore, employees are advised to distribute their unpaid personal time hours throughout the year. Constantly applying to take time off work without a good reason may make supervisors question your commitment. This could make it difficult to apply for a promotion or a pay raise later in the year.
It is not technically possible to get in trouble for using your provided unpaid personal time hours. However, you need to make sure that you do not go over your allotted number of hours. The time that you clock out of the system each day is recorded, and your working hours are counted carefully.
Ends in a warning or losing your job…
If you overshoot your permitted number of unpaid personal time hours, you will receive a written warning. If this happens more than once, you are likely to lose your job. This is more likely to happen during busy periods when employees are expected to work hard to help meet demands.
What Is UPT Amazon? – Sick Days Off
If you are genuinely sick, you can take time off work without using up your unpaid personal time. You are entitled to receive eighty hours of sick time each year if you work for the company. If you need a longer break, you could choose to combine your sick days with your unpaid personal time.
However, you have to call your supervisor at least 24 hours in advance to use your sick days. As long as you go through the right channels, you can receive sick pay if you are genuinely ill. However, you need to be prepared to prove that you were genuinely ill when you return to work. The best way to do this is by providing your manager with a signed and detailed doctor’s note.
Other Types Of Leave
If you are a full-time employee, you are also entitled to apply for other types of leave when necessary. It is important to make sure you understand these leave options and how you can apply for them. Let’s take a closer look at the main types of leave Amazon offers full-time employees.
Sick leave
As already mentioned, the company provides employees with up to eighty hours of sick leave each year. However, you need to call your supervisor in advance if you want to use up some of your sick leave. Otherwise, you will be forced to use your unpaid personal time hours to cover your recovery time.
Paid time off
All company employees who work full-time are given forty hours of paid time off each year. Employees can choose whether they take these hours off work in a single block or spread them out. This allows employees to take a week-long vacation with friends or family or a series of mental health days.
Employees receive their regular salary for any paid time off they choose to take. However, it is important to arrange paid time off with your supervisor. If you have a particular vacation date in mind, apply for time off as far in advance as possible.
Vacation days
Vacation days are provided in addition to paid time off and follow the same basic rule. All employees who are entitled to receive vacation days receive full payment for them. Again, you need to book your vacation dates as far in advance as possible.
The number of annual vacation days you are awarded depends on a number of different factors. Employees who receive an hourly wage typically receive five vacation days in their first year. In the second year, these employees are provided with ten vacation days to use when they want.
In your first year of work…
Employees who are on a monthly salary receive two weeks of vacation time in their first year of employment. This is increased to three weeks after employees have worked for the company for more than a year.
Parental leave
Birthing parents are entitled to receive up to twenty weeks of fully paid leave. This includes four weeks of paid leave just before the baby is born. Both male and female parents are entitled to take advantage of this leave under the company’s benefits package.
Supporting parents and adoptive parents are offered up to six weeks of fully paid leave. Through the company’s Leave Share program, employees can award six weeks of paid parental leave to their partner or spouse. This is designed to assist people in jobs that are not provided with paid parental leave.
Bereavement
If there is a death in the immediate family of an employee, that employee can apply for bereavement leave. Both full-time and part-time employees are entitled to apply for bereavement leave.
However, a maximum of three consecutive days is usually provided at a single time. Employees who leave to take extra time off work should use some of their unpaid personal time hours.
Requested proof of death…
When you apply for bereavement leave, your employer reserves the right to request proof of death. This proof could be the obituary of a family member or their death certificate. However, most employers are unlikely to do this except under certain circumstances.
Bereavement leave is considered as paid time off. This means that employees who take bereavement leave will still receive their full salaries. They will not lose any of their accrued paid time off or vacation days.
Further Policies When Working At Amazon
If you need more info, check out our in-depth look at the Amazon UPT Policy, the Amazon VTO Policy, or how about the Amazon HR Policy, along with the Amazon Transfer Policy, Amazon Termination Policy, and Amazon Rehire Policy if you’d like to return to the company.
In addition, you might be curious to find out How Many Employees Does Amazon Have, as well as Does Amazon Give Bonuses, and if you have a criminal record, check out the Amazon Background Check Policy and Does Amazon Hire Felons before moving forward.
Next, take a look at our Amazon Vision And Mission Statement Analysis to find out more about the company. Plus, all the information you need about applying can be found in our look at the Amazon Application, and once that’s done, What Does Amazon Jobs Application Under Construction Mean will explain the waiting process in 2023.
What Is UPT Amazon? – Final Thoughts
The unpaid personal time policy gives Amazon employees a good way to maximize their vacation time. All full-time employees are entitled to receive forty hours of paid vacation time each year. You can use up all these hours at the same time so that you can enjoy a long vacation at the company’s expense.
This will help to make sure you return to your job feeling refreshed and ready to work hard. You can then use your eighty unpaid personal time hours whenever you need an extra break. Although you will not receive a salary for these extra hours off, it helps you maintain a good work-life balance.
All the very best working at Amazon!