World's Richest Man Jeff Bezos Asks Public to Pitch in for Amazon Workers' Sick Leave | 22 Words

Even though Jeff Bezos is the wealthiest man in the world, he appears to be struggling during this global pandemic just as much as the rest of us.

The multi-billionaire is even asking the public to step in and do something totally bizarre for his employees.

Keep scrolling to find out about his ludicrous request...

Jeff Bezos is the wealthiest man in the world.

The title all of us dream of one day acquiring.

Bezos is a multi-billionaire... I didn't even think they existed.

And, according to Forbes, his current net worth stands in at around $129.9 billion. The only man close to matching this eye-watering figure is Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, who is worth around $113.1 billion.

But where does Bezos' wealth come from?

Nobody is born with a net worth of over $100 billion, some of us are only given a small loan of one million dollars... So where did it all start?

Bezos is the founder and CEO of the online retail giant, Amazon.

Born in 1964 in New Mexico, Bezos always held a huge passion for computers, and went on to study computer science and electrical engineering at Princeton University.

After graduating, Bezos spent some time working on Wall Street...

But, 4 years later in 1995, he quit to open his own online bookstore from his garage - Amazon.com.

The birth of Amazon.com changed everything for Bezos.

The initial success of the online store was staggering. Within the first thirty days, Amazon.com had sold books all across the United States, and across forty-five foreign countries.

And the online retailer only went from strength to strength.

In mere years following from its launch, Amazon.com began stocking a wider variety of products, such as electronics, clothing, and toys, making it the number one online retailer.

It's yearly earnings kept multiplying...

And, as of this year, the company alone has been reported to be worth $1000B.

Bezos's accomplishment with Amazon is staggering.

And he didn't stop there. In 2013, Bezos revealed that he had purchased the Washington Post, which he has since made profitable with a revenue of over $100 million.

But, despite all of his success...

Bezos has faced a significant amount of controversy regarding his work ethics and spending habits.

It has been revealed that Bezos provides a shockingly low standard of working conditions for his employees.

Over the last couple of years, more and more stories of Amazon workers being forced to work unethical hours for ridiculously low wages - as little as $10 an hour, in some instances - have been emerging.

During this global pandemic, he's really shown his true colors.

He's been criticized by the public on social media after setting up a relief fund which the public can donate to for his employees that are working during the outbreak.

The Amazon Relief Fund was set up to assist "employees and partners."

It was created with twenty-five-million dollars from the e-commerce company to help those who are responsible for delivering goods across America.

Here's what it's focus is...

"Supporting our US-based Delivery Associates employed by Delivery Service Providers, our Amazon Flex Delivery Partners, and Associates working for Integrity Staffing, Adecco Staffing, and RES Staffing, and drivers and support team members of line haul partners under financial distress due to a Covid-19 diagnosis or quarantine."

The company did contribute a fair amount to the fund.

But the company wrote on the fund's website: "While we aren’t expecting anyone to do so, you can make a voluntary donation to the fund if you desire to do so."

However, before changing the wording, they encouraged people to donate by text.

Understandably the relief fund attracted a lot of backlash online. One Twitter user wrote: "How is your company worth over a TRILLION dollars and you want the public to donate to an employee relief fund?! As if Amazon can’t pay their employees themselves."

While another wrote...

"Jeff Bezos makes 9 million dollars every hour. He can take an evening nap and make more than you will in your entire lifetime. Amazon hasn't paid federal taxes in years. But he wants you to donate so Amazon workers can take sick leave."

A spokesperson for Amazon had this to say...

"We are not and have not asked for donations and the Amazon Relief Fund has been funded by Amazon with an initial donation of $25 million. The structure to operate a fund like this, which hundreds of companies do through the same third-party, requires the program to be open to public contributions but we are not soliciting those contributions in any way."

Amazon initially decided to pay workers sick leave.

Up to 2 weeks sick leave would be provided to "all Amazon employees diagnosed with Covid-19 or placed into quarantine."

But all this changed on Monday.

Amazon said it would extend its sick leave to those who work twenty hours or more, but those who don't aren't covered and have been encouraged to apply for the Amazon Relief Fund. Just to reiterate, Bezos is worth $114 billion, making him the world's richest man. If you are currently stuck inside, why not check out what Netflix has lined up for us in April. We're in for a treat...