Amazon, one of the big five companies in the world, has addressed its delivery driver shortage – by removing the screening for marijuana use.
The US has a delivery driver shortage that is causing disruptions to supply chains, retailers, and mail services.
Amazon, whose founder is the world’s richest man Jeff Bezos, said in correspondence to its delivery partners that dropping marijuana testing can hike job applications by up to 400 per cent, Bloomberg reported.
Screening prospective drivers for smoking pot reduced job applications by 30 per cent, Amazon said.
Not everyone is happy with the decision however.
“If one of my drivers crashes and kills someone and tests positive for marijuana, that’s my problem, not Amazon’s,” any anonymous delivery partner told Bloomberg.
Another said that marijuana was the main reason why prospective drivers failed drug tests, but since they stopped screening for it, they had taken more drivers on board.
Some delivery partners said they were worried about insurance and legal risks in states that still criminalize pot. Others said they were concerned about drivers potentially smoking a joint before heading out to work.
But Amazon is standing behind its advice, with a spokesperson saying that testing applicants for pot has disproportionately impacted communities of colour, which has stunted job growth.
The retail online giant also said it backed legislation to federally decriminalise marijuana in the US.
Will customers care if their packages arrives on time and in one piece?
