Amazon India Strengthens Inclusive Hiring; Includes People with Learning Disabilities in its Workforce

Amazon India, in its continued effort to build a diverse and inclusive workforce, announces the launch of Aurora, a program designed to leverage the unique talents of individuals with learning disabilities and provide meaningful, sustained employment to them. The announcement follows successful pilot where Amazon India worked with Sol’s ARC, a non-profit organization based in Mumbai that conducts vocational training for autistic and intellectual disability cohorts, in harnessing the talent of a batch of young adults in the company’s delivery station in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad. We have over 35 associates working now at our fulfilment center, sortation center and delivery Station area. Amazon India aims to onboard many more people with learning disabilities this year.

Speaking on the launch of the program, Liju Thomas, Director – HR Operations, Amazon India, said, “At Amazon, we are passionate about creating a diverse workforce to reflect our customer base and ensure we tap into their diverse perspectives. We strongly believe that diversity in the workplace helps create a better, more inclusive environment and we are invested to create opportunities for the underrepresented cohorts. With the introduction of Amazon’s new leadership principle “Strive to be the Earth’s Best Employer”, we have further strengthened our efforts to build a culture that is welcoming and inclusive, enabling our employees to have a sense of belonging, value, and opportunity. ‘Aurora’ is yet another initiative towards creating a truly inclusive and equitable workplace for people with learning disabilities.

Khushi Thakkar, an associate with learning disability, at Amazon’s delivery station in Mumbai, joined Amazon’s pilot program with Sol’s Arc. The program has built her confidence and social skills as she shares in her own words, ‘’I never thought that I would be a part of a workplace. At Amazon, I am learning to scan, and sort customer orders. With the support of seniors and my co-workers, I am also learning new things at work. I am extremely happy and my parents and teachers at Sol’s Arc are very proud of me!’’

Besides hiring talent with learning disabilities, Amazon’s Aurora program will also focus on building groundwork and support mechanisms, such as increasing employee awareness and inspiring employees to be allies to those with learning disabilities. Training sessions for existing employees will be increased to make them aware and help them gain more sensitivity towards this cohort, Amazon India will also learn and use existing global practices if any and tailor them as necessary to meet the needs of employees in India. Listening Sessions’ will be conducted with associates to understand their feedback to ensure appropriate interventions are made to drive positive experience.

At Amazon, an inclusive and diverse culture enables employees to find innovative solutions to challenges facing customers as well as society as a whole. In addition to this focus on people with learning disabilities, Amazon runs various programs for diverse underrepresented cohorts encompassing not just PwDs but also women, military veterans and people from the LGBTQIA+ community. The company has pioneered the ‘Silent Delivery Station’ through the Delivery Service Partner program in Mumbai in January 2017, where the station is run by individuals with speech and hearing impairment. Additionally, Amazon has initiatives designed to create opportunities for persons with hearing impairment in its operations sites. The pilot started in 2017 with a handful of associates with speech and hearing impairment, who were trained to pack shipments at the Amazon fulfilment centre. This initiative has now expanded across our operations network across the country.