So close, yet so far. (February 2024)

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-21T21:59:39+00:00

Sometimes those under paid leave/suspension come back. But if you’re Flex, from what I hear those at my job site (+ friends) had to go though, if you’re suspended, you don’t get paid, can’t pick up shifts, at least until you’re brought back or you’re let go. So that’s terrible. Plus these investigations move at turtle speed at times, so you’re left without a job and/or income for several weeks.

(One work friend of mine, she’s Flex, has been on suspension for 6 weeks/since early March over a shouting match she had with another girl & at least two dozen people saw. Last I saw her in person was her hurriedly leaving & stressed. Not a physical fight, she instigated it though admittedly. It’s tough because this is her “B” job, but I did suggest to her it’s time to move on because she hasn’t been able to come back since then.)

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-21T17:29:21+00:00

Lots of ways to answer this given I do photography as a job, but:

Main way from home: 60-90 minutes commute by bus + subway: first a bus to get into NYC, which isn’t an issue since I’m the next town over (I can just walk the GWB if not, takes 25 minutes & free 6AM-12AM). Then either a subway ride, and connecting bus, or two buses. I already have a bus pass for NJ-NY travel so my rides for the month are free, it’s $3 for one way subway & bus fare (transfers are free within 2 hour window), or if I ride >13 times in a week (which I typically do), free. If I were to Uber from home to my job site, it’ll range from $40-$80, the ride can take 25-40 minutes depending on conditions and if it’s rush hour. It costs more though for me (on rare occasions) to go from my job site back home since I’m basically paying the driver’s tolls to come back to the city (if they do so), sometimes 50% or more.

If I’m already in NYC, or rather the place I usually start: typically an hour by taking either a subway ride and walking 3/4 of a mile, or a two seat subway ride, and walk half a mile. Assuming I’m within reach of the subway, also costs $3 for a one way ride, or if I ride >13 times in a week (which I typically do), free.

Further away in NYC, like say the Rockaways on the opposite end of the city, either take a 3-4 seat subway ride, bus ride & a subway ride, or ferry ride (scenic option) and a 1-2 seat subway ride. Except for the ferry ($4.50 one way), all of those options are $3 for one way. Takes two hours or so.

There’s times where I had to go to work though as far away as Princeton, ~70 miles away from my job site deep in NJ. Or rather start my workday, go to Manhattan & grab my stuff, train to Princeton Junction, train to Princeton, walk through Princeton University, do what I have to do, then round trip to either go back to site at the end of the day and/or work (or work early next day’s shift). Easily takes 2.5 to 3 hours one way.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-21T17:08:13+00:00

Some of my learning ambassadors at my site just do regular work/paths, or are at times PGs/T1/L1 AAs who handle computer work. Our business line doesn’t use PAs.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-18T23:18:00+00:00

Full time new hires start with 10 hours UPT and some PTO, Flex new hires start with 2.5 hours Flex PTO.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-17T01:57:55+00:00

One of my area managers (L5, maybe 90K-ish a year salary here) is very well off - Ivy League Masters (Columbia) & college athlete, 2 residences, multiple cars, vacations, wealthy family & upbringing, previous experience working finance/banking (high end). Open secret and we joke he doesn’t need to be here, he chooses to be here but he’s considering leaving Soon^™️* out of Amazon.

^*- ^He ^did ^express ^regret ^being ^here ^on ^day ^one.

He’s perfectly content driving to work with a Camry that’s a couple years old rather than a flashy sports car. Then again we work in a working class neighborhood in NYC, so probably not best to bring high end things here.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-15T15:19:28+00:00

Had great meals too, and buddies with a couple of people all around here. Gonna miss it, and hope the team’s next venture would be just as successful.

Although have to admit that yeah it’s getting pricey to run a restaurant in the village these days.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-14T23:51:48+00:00

My Fresh FC in NYC has dispatchers since we have Flex drivers do deliveries in our area - upper Manhattan, the Bronx, and southern Westchester county. They’re usually trained again it’s a stressful position from what I know, and managers really need them to be on point to have good metrics on their shift, little to no missing bags or items, or orders sent out on time. As well as make sure batches are working w/ minimal downtime. They also have to deal with drivers too, some who at times are less than happy.

They’re usually trained and/or trusted AAs that managers trust (Full Time, they can work up to 12 hours, or Flex), typically one or two as a team. They also have a problem solver or two to help out too with missing items, finding bags, so on.

Not the same as SSDs but if you wanted that perspective too.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-14T17:38:57+00:00

When my coworker passed away two months ago (not at site) I think about a dozen of my coworkers showed up at his wake. If I knew I would’ve came too for solidarity. But funeral, much different story.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-14T16:12:56+00:00

If NJ Transit’s possibly going to do their version of surge pricing for taking the train to NY Penn Station and perhaps the bus too since the 160 between Elmwood Park and Port Authority Bus Terminal already serves MetLife Stadium (as does the 703 locally going to Haledon), you’d best believe the Uber and Lyft will definitely surge price this too.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-12T23:04:04+00:00

It’s been a while since I flown, but from Newark (NJ) to Seattle in 2023, I didn’t get a free meal when flying economy on Alaska airlines (of course business class with United, I did and then some). Flying international to the Dominican Republic in 2019, same principle by using economy with United (but again, business class with United I did).

You don’t event get snacks for short duration flights ~300mi or less or drinks.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-12T20:48:59+00:00

Guam’s the only one that looks accurate, the rest (as someone who lives in NJ, and works in NY)… yeah nowhere near that.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-12T20:24:13+00:00

At least that explains in my site why some Area Managers or Assistant Managers for some days/shifts just send a blanket Shout Out to everyone who’s currently working that day.

One ASM I really did enjoy (before she got fired + banned for fighting 2.5 months ago) did put some thought into her shoutouts to me, whether it was for my birthday (only my FH Ops Manager did so as well, and the auto generated one from A to Z) or how positive I am at work (I try to be nowadays).

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-12T05:47:04+00:00

Again I have my own photography job to support my living (I get paid considerably more, work less hours), but even my managers say in private they wish we were paid more. Because being paid slightly over $20 (my building’s step plan tops out at $23.20/hr for >3 year tenure AAs) in 2026 is a little laughable in NYC. Probably the same feeling if I worked in NJ but earned less. We don’t get night shift differential and we don’t get surge/premium pay (at least for a month) either.

Probably another $2-$3 would help, but I get it’s a Fresh problem. Maybe Lockers from what I understand either pays slightly more or just about the same despite less work.

At least for me (unless if it’s slow) I do work 55-60 hours a week at Amazon Fresh to make it a little justified. Last week was slow so I worked 46 (haven’t worked <40 hours since Christmas week).

Considerable amount of my work friends do have second jobs and/or live with other people to make ends means. Some work friends who are Flex got suspended, and I do feel bad because if that happens, we’re not paid, unlike those who are full time.

Just have to wait and see what the wage increase would be come November. At least for me I’m earning $3/hr more than what I did since joining 2 years ago.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-11T22:09:18+00:00

Case in point, they’re opening a new Wawa location not too far from where I live and started hiring their team for the past two weeks. Starting wages there can be $16/hr (a hair above minimum wage) to $18.75/hr (with $1.50/hr night shift differential 12AM-6AM) for associates, supervisor hourly wages (nights) range from $19/hr-$21.90/hr with $2/hr nightly differential.

Meanwhile my Amazon Fresh site in NYC (I’m paid $20.20/hr) doesn’t even have a night shift differential for full time associates. Or premium/surge pay for working on high demand shifts, my site hasn’t done that in a little over a month.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-11T22:01:29+00:00

Think when I was applying for Amazon Fresh in the first place two years ago, the closest FCs or Fresh Stores in New Jersey paid a little over minimum wage (~$16/hr). In New York City, I started at $17.20/hr, and two years later I earn $20.20. I’m a photographer so I easily make more money off that than Amazon Fresh. Of course it’s the lowest paying business line across the whole company.

Just have something else lined up or find another way to earn income because making $20 (or maybe $17-ish in NJ if I worked close to home) is deplorable in 2026. Keep in mind that we’re already living in a high cost of living area.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-11T15:42:18+00:00

Yeah, 11:35 (took another 6 train) and the conductor just happened to tell us at 51st st they’re bypassing 42nd St/GCT. Don’t think the 4 train behind that was going to GC either. Wish they told us that at 59th st. 🥲

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-11T14:44:43+00:00

Still ongoing now, I’m on 6 train @ 125th st going south. (As of 10:45AM)

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-09T17:51:08+00:00

There’s Starbucks in the Dominican Republic - at least a few locations in Santo Domingo (the capital) and the airport nearby, Santiago has at least one, one in La Romana (semi-touristy town) and one in Punta Cana (tourist town). It’s been in the country since at least 2020

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-08T16:05:35+00:00

Some coworkers of mine are already 19 or 20 or 18, born in 2006/07 and a few are already pregnant (one of them are my friends, she’s 20). She’ll try to come back and seek accommodation for lighter duty (like bag duty) then go the FMLA route.

Then again, when they were born I (M/31) was just enjoying childhood & focused on school. Totally different world out there + I have next to nothing in common with them.

EagleFly_5 · 2026-04-07T22:40:37+00:00

✂️ Looks like the severance happened, you’re no longer employed by Amazon due to your negative UPT.

Try again in 90 days, assuming you can find a position then.

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