Amazon Canada’s head of HR: How volunteering boosts employee morale

After originally pursuing accounting as a career, it wasn’t until Michael Weeks discovered his passion for people that turned him towards HR. Now, as head of HR for Amazon in Canada, he’s never looked back.

“I discovered my customer obsession while working delivering furniture in college,” he tells HRD. “Recognizing the critical role I played as a direct point of contact for customers, I saw the importance of employee engagement and effective management.

“My experience highlighted the direct impact of people management on business success, and prompted me to enroll in an HR program, a significant step that led me to my current role at Amazon, where I contribute to a company that values effective people management and understands its importance for business success.”

Navigating challenges in HR

It’s not all been plain sailing – but as Weeks tells HRD, in the field of HR, challenges are opportunities for growth and innovation.

“Whether it's navigating complex employment matters or adapting to the changing landscape of work, we are in a dynamic environment. The last three years of managing the impacts of COVID-19 have only elevated HR’s importance to a business. HR professionals must stay informed and agile while constantly evolving our strategies to meet the ever-shifting needs of our workforce and maintain focus our on our customer.”

At Amazon, Weeks leads the tech giant’s Global Month of Volunteering – a chance for all employees to engage in activities that benefit the communities where they live and work. This year, during Amazon Global Month of Volunteering, more than 1,000 Amazon Canada employees made a meaningful impact in the communities where company employees live and work by organizing and participating in more than 25 volunteering activities, such as community clean-ups, food drives and sortation and mentorship programs.

“By volunteering with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank during Amazon Global Month of Volunteering, as many employees like myself did, we contributed to supporting community members with food insecurity and hunger challenges. This organization was of particular importance to me and I was happy to directly contribute to improving the lives of those in need in our local community, and also educate me on the seriousness of the issue in our community.”

Volunteering boosts engagement

And the importance of volunteering can’t be understated – not only from an ethics standpoint but also for overall business success. According to data from LSE, 96% of organizations say that employee who volunteer are more engaged – with further research from Deloitte adding that 70% of employees say volunteering boosts their personal enthusiasm.

Amazon, as Weeks tells HRD, discovered this for themselves.

“We believe that volunteering is an important part of our responsibility to our community, and it boosts employee morale by promoting a sense of shared purpose and community,” he explains. “Volunteering also aligns with other Amazon core leadership principles, such as Customer Obsession and Ownership, reinforcing Amazon’s commitment to being socially responsible and contributing to the betterment of society.

“Many Amazon managers leveraged Amazon Global Month of Volunteering to bring their team together, foster team collaboration and fun. By participating in volunteer initiatives during Amazon Global Month of Volunteering, employees helped those in need and were engaged and motivated by the experience.”

Allocate time to explore possibilities

Helming these engagements, as well as being responsible for over 40,000 people across Canada, Weeks takes it all in stride. And for junior practitioners looking to emanate his success in the field, he tells HRD that to maximize your impact you must consider how you can go above what is expected.

“Allocate time and mental space to explore the realm of possibilities, but ensure your primary job responsibilities are consistently met. Often this impact won't be achieved by merely fulfilling your defined job tasks.

“However, by actively searching for uncharted territory, finding ways to automate non-value-added processes, and focusing on tasks that bring substantial value and surprise others both within your company and in your community - you’re guaranteed to be viewed as a leader and will seamlessly grow and move into a well-deserved leadership role.”