Amazon expands healthcare, leave benefits to Whole Foods employees

Whole Foods has been part of the Amazon family since 2017, but up until now employees of the grocery chain haven’t had access to the same benefits as employees of their parent company.

That’s changing, according to a recent announcement from Jason Buechel, VP of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores and CEO of Whole Foods Market.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2027, Whole Foods employees “will gain access to Amazon’s comprehensive benefits,” including health plans with coverage for fertility and other types of specialty care (like cancer support and mental health resources), as well as access to the e-commerce giant’s career development platform.

Whole Foods is also raising pay for hourly store employees, with average wages going up to $21 an hour starting on Sept. 28. Amazon is spending more than $230 million to expand these benefits to Whole Foods workers, Beuchel said.

What’s changing in Whole Foods’s benefits? Whole Foods team members who work upwards of 30 hours a week already have access to healthcare and dental coverage after 60 days of employment. With this expansion, they can enroll in one of Amazon’s eligible plans, which start at $5 a week, per the announcement. Employees typically gain access to these plans earlier, on the first day of employment.

Buechel noted that Amazon’s plans include coverage for care “that many current Whole Foods Market plans don’t include,” including fertility treatment. (Coverage of fertility treatments like in-vitro fertilization are a powerful lever for Amazon to attract talent; some women apply to work in the company’s warehouses solely so they can access these benefits, The Cut reported in 2022.) Eligible Whole Foods employees will be able to take Amazon’s parental leave, which is 20 weeks for birthing parents.

Part-time employees working 20 or more hours a week will gain access to dental, vision, and basic life insurance, according to the announcement.

Other perks that will now be available to Whole Foods workers include a free Amazon Prime membership and access to the company’s Career Choice platform, which covers education including skills training and certifications.

Bringing Whole Foods workers on board. This is Amazon’s latest action aimed at integrating Whole Foods employees more closely into the company. The retailer similarly announced last August it would grant corporate Whole Foods employees the same pay structure and benefits as their Amazon counterparts.

Concerns around wages and healthcare were central to a union campaign that took place at a Philadelphia Whole Foods store last year.

Workers at this store voted to join The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in January 2025, with the aim of winning “fair wages, better benefits, and a safer, more supportive workplace.” Whole Foods challenged the results of this election, but its concerns were dismissed by the National Labor Relations Board.