Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. A new Government Accountability Office study found that a growing number of Amazon and gig economy workers are earning so little that they have to rely on public assistance to put food on the table and get health coverage. I mean, you’d think working for a company like Amazon would be a ticket to the middle class, but apparently not. The study, which was released on Wednesday, found that the number of Amazon employees receiving food stamps and Medicaid nearly tripled since the GAO’s previous report in 2020. That’s a pretty shocking statistic, if you ask me.
The study analyzed data from 11 states where nearly one-fifth of Americans reside, and it found that Walmart was one of the top employers of workers receiving these benefits in all the states examined. Meanwhile, the number of FedEx staffers on Medicaid more than tripled and on food stamps nearly doubled over the period. It’s worth noting that these companies are not exactly small-time operations – we’re talking about some of the biggest employers in the country.
According to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who requested the analysis, nearly 12,350 Amazon staffers were enrolled in food stamps and nearly 11,350 were covered by Medicaid in the states GAO examined. That’s a lot of people who are working hard but still can’t make ends meet. Sanders said in a statement, “No one who works for a company making billions in profits should be living in poverty.” I think that’s a pretty reasonable statement, don’t you?
Amazon, for its part, says the conclusions drawn from the report are wrong, arguing that its pay scale is among the best in the industry and that its regular, full-time employees have access to health insurance on their first day for $5 a week for individual coverage. But the fact remains that a lot of Amazon employees are struggling to get by, and that’s something we should all be concerned about.
The study also found that rideshare and food delivery companies are now among the top employers of recipients in the two safety net programs in several states, which was not the case five years earlier. Companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub, and Instacart are all on the list. It’s a sign of the times, I suppose – the gig economy is growing, but it’s not always providing the kind of stability and security that workers need.
Walmart, which is America’s largest private employer, has increased its starting wages for associates by 93% since 2015, according to the company. Associates make $18 an hour, on average. That’s a step in the right direction, but it’s still not enough to get a lot of workers out of poverty.
The GAO report comes as tens of millions of food stamp and Medicaid recipients will be required to work – or volunteer, go to school or enroll in job training programs – at least 80 hours a month to maintain their eligibility. It’s a tough situation, and I’m not sure what the solution is. But one thing’s for sure – we need to take a hard look at the way our economy is working and make some changes.
In conclusion, the study’s findings are a wake-up call for all of us. It’s time to take a closer look at the way our economy is working and make some changes. We need to make sure that people who are working hard can earn a living wage and get the benefits they need to thrive. And if that means making some adjustments to the way we do business, then so be it. After all, as the saying goes, “you can’t have your cake and eat it too” – but it’s time for us to start making sure that everyone gets a slice of the cake, not just the wealthy few. And that’s the bottom line, folks – or should I say, that’s the bottom of my coffee cup? 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
