Putting a twist on the usual ‘bring your children to work day’, on Friday 29th September, proud parents of Amazon employees visited our new 600,000 sq ft head office at Principal Place in Shoreditch.
Four hundred parents and grandparents from all over the UK, and some from even further afield, visited their children’s workplace for ‘Bring Your Parents To Work Day' to find out more about Amazon and what their children do day to day.
The event aims to give parents a glimpse into the working lives of their children. Parents were given the opportunity to visit an interactive tech fair showcasing our latest innovations, see an Amazon drone up close and learn about the Prime Air delivery service. They were also able to watch Amazon Robotics in action, and test out Alexa, Amazon’s voice recognition software. The event also featured an Operations area that enabled parents to pack parcels and learn about the delivery process.
Other sessions included screenings of Amazon Original Prime Video shows, a music room featuring the Amazon Music Jukebox where parents could select their own music, an art room and a chance to meet the company’s employee affinity groups and charity partners.
James Dunmore, Software Development Manager at Amazon UK, said. “My dad is always asking me what it is exactly I do and it’s so much easier to show him. It was the first time I’d heard of Bring Your Parents To Work Day, but as soon as I read about it I signed Dad up, I couldn’t wait to bring him along. It’s also been great for me to learn more about other bits of the business!”
James’ father, Adrian Pinnock, said, “The highlight of my day has been having a go on the tape machine that’s used to pack boxes, very fun! The day has been brilliant, really superb. Other than feeling exceptionally proud of my son, the main thing I’ve learnt today is how Amazon is making a difference to the world and peoples’ lives. I come from a retail background and know that the customer is important, and I see that here. I see my son making a difference in a small but substantial way.”
Employees spent the day with their parents, giving them a tour of the building, explaining what their role is and showcasing their work.
Jim Sterner, Director of HR at Amazon UK, said: “The idea behind Amazon’s Bring Your Parents To Work Day is to give our employees a chance to show their parents what our business is all about. As well as engaging and building pride among our employees, it also gives parents a better understanding of how a company like ours works. It was great to meet so many parents and hear the great feedback they had.”
