Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday. 
 
A filing on Friday showed 44 per cent&nbsp;of votes cast supported a call for a review of the company`s impact on equity, diversity and other areas proposed by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli at Amazon`s annual meeting on May 26, a high total for such a measure. 
 
DiNapoli said the measure would have received a majority but for the 14 per cent&nbsp;stake held by CEO Jeff Bezos, a sign of investor dissatisfaction at the leading online retailer. 
 
"Shareholders sent a loud message to Amazon that they want the company to do more to address racial diversity, equity and inclusion. It`s time for Amazon to listen to its investors," DiNapoli said in an emailed-statement. 
 
Amazon had previously said the measure did not win a majority but it did not give the voting breakdown. 
 
An Amazon representative said the company has "initiated numerous programs to assess and address racial justice considerations across key aspects of our operations that we believe fully address the objectives of this proposal.” 
 
The call for the racial equity audit received the highest level of support among 11 shareholder proposals at Wednesday`s meeting. 
 
Another, calling for Amazon to consider adding an hourly worker to its board of directors received support from 17 per cent&nbsp;of votes cast, the filing showed. 
 
Proposals with such low levels of support are rarely adopted, although the figure was about twice what similar calls for workers-on-boards have received at other companies in recent years. 
 
The measure, which received a rare endorsement from Institutional Shareholder Services, was closely watched at the annual meeting after a union organising effort at the company failed in April.

Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday.

Amazon.com Inc should review how it is addressing racial justice and equity after a shareholder proposal on the topic won strong backing, New York state`s top pension official said on Friday. A filing on Friday showed 44 per cent of votes cast supported a call for a review of the company`s impact on equity, diversity and other areas proposed by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli at Amazon`s annual meeting on May 26, a high total for such a measure. DiNapoli said the measure would have received a majority but for the 14 per cent stake held by CEO Jeff Bezos, a sign of investor dissatisfaction at the leading online retailer. "Shareholders sent a loud message to Amazon that they want the company to do more to address racial diversity, equity and inclusion. It`s time for Amazon to listen to its investors," DiNapoli said in an emailed-statement. Amazon had previously said the measure did not win a majority but it did not give the voting breakdown. An Amazon representative said the company has "initiated numerous programs to assess and address racial justice considerations across key aspects of our operations that we believe fully address the objectives of this proposal.” The call for the racial equity audit received the highest level of support among 11 shareholder proposals at Wednesday`s meeting. Another, calling for Amazon to consider adding an hourly worker to its board of directors received support from 17 per cent of votes cast, the filing showed. Proposals with such low levels of support are rarely adopted, although the figure was about twice what similar calls for workers-on-boards have received at other companies in recent years. The measure, which received a rare endorsement from Institutional Shareholder Services, was closely watched at the annual meeting after a union organising effort at the company failed in April.

Amazon pressed for racial equity review after strong vote tally

Amazon.com Inc said on Tuesday it will launch a $2 billion venture capital fund that will focus on technology investments to reduce the impact of climate change and support sustainable development.

The Climate Pledge Fund will invest in companies across industries such as transportation and logistics, energy, storage and utilization, manufacturing and materials, and food and agriculture, the e-commerce giant said.

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Amazon, which delivers about 10 billion items a year and has a massive transportation and data center footprint, has faced protests from environmental activists and pressure from its employees to take action on climate change.

The company has vowed to be net carbon neutral by 2040.&nbsp;

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"Each prospective investment will be judged on its potential to accelerate the path to zero carbon and help protect the planet for future generations," Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos said in a statement.

In February, Bezos committed about $10 billion to fund scientists, activists, non-profits and other groups fighting to protect the environment.&nbsp;

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the new fund.

Amazon.com Inc said on Tuesday it will launch a $2 billion venture capital fund that will focus on technology investments to reduce the impact of climate change and support sustainable development.

Amazon.com Inc said on Tuesday it will launch a $2 billion venture capital fund that will focus on technology investments to reduce the impact of climate change and support sustainable development. The Climate Pledge Fund will invest in companies across industries such as transportation and logistics, energy, storage and utilization, manufacturing and materials, and food and agriculture, the e-commerce giant said. Also read: Apple, Google, Amazon take aim at Trump visa ban Amazon, which delivers about 10 billion items a year and has a massive transportation and data center footprint, has faced protests from environmental activists and pressure from its employees to take action on climate change. The company has vowed to be net carbon neutral by 2040. Also read: Amazon to use AI tech in its warehouses to enforce social distancing "Each prospective investment will be judged on its potential to accelerate the path to zero carbon and help protect the planet for future generations," Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos said in a statement. In February, Bezos committed about $10 billion to fund scientists, activists, non-profits and other groups fighting to protect the environment. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the new fund.

Amazon pledges $2 billion venture capital fund to invest in clean energy

The United States online retail giant Amazon is trying out teams with employees who will work 30 hours a week, the Washington Post reported on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
The employees will receive three-quarters of what their 40-hour week counterparts earn, but with the same benefits as them. 
 
&quot;We want to create a work environment that is tailored to a reduced schedule and still fosters success and career growth,&rdquo; Amazon said, according to the report, adding that the conventional full-time schedule may not be a one-size-fits-all model. 
 
The program will only be restricted to certain small teams dedicated to designing technical system, a source told AFP news agency.&nbsp; 
 
Though Amazon allows its employees to work part-time, it has been widely criticised for its stressful working conditions in the past, especially at fulfillment centers where pressure is high to ship purchases to customers quickly and efficiently. 
 
The New York Times had last year created an uproar with a story projecting Amazon&rsquo;s white collar workers as weeping on their desks and going without sleep for days. Amazon had rejected the portrayal, accusing the newspaper of missing out on major elements in its investigation.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Though the online giant allows its employees to work part-time, it has been widely criticised for its 'stressful working conditions'

The United States online retail giant Amazon is trying out teams with employees who will work 30 hours a week, the Washington Post reported on Friday. The employees will receive three-quarters of what their 40-hour week counterparts earn, but with the same benefits as them. "We want to create a work environment that is tailored to a reduced schedule and still fosters success and career growth,” Amazon said, according to the report, adding that the conventional full-time schedule may not be a one-size-fits-all model. The program will only be restricted to certain small teams dedicated to designing technical system, a source told AFP news agency. Though Amazon allows its employees to work part-time, it has been widely criticised for its stressful working conditions in the past, especially at fulfillment centers where pressure is high to ship purchases to customers quickly and efficiently. The New York Times had last year created an uproar with a story projecting Amazon’s white collar workers as weeping on their desks and going without sleep for days. Amazon had rejected the portrayal, accusing the newspaper of missing out on major elements in its investigation. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Amazon to experiment with '30-hour work teams'

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Amazon pressed for racial equity review after strong vote tally

Amazon pledges $2 billion venture capital fund to invest in clean energy

Amazon to experiment with '30-hour work teams'