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Jeff Bezos released a letter on Thursday where he conceded Amazon needs "to do a better job" for its workers, though he defended the company's working conditions, which employees have called harsh.

Why it matters: It's Bezos' final shareholder letter as CEO. He's stepping back as the company faces pressure for how it treats employees and its outsized influence that ballooned even more during the pandemic. 

It comes after a failed unionization effort at a distribution center in Alabama, which Amazon intensely opposed.

What he's saying: "Does your Chair take comfort in the outcome of the recent union vote in Bessemer [Alabama]? No, he doesn’t," Bezos wrote, referring to himself.

What's new: Bezos said Amazon Prime has over 200 million subscribers, up from 150 million last January.

Jeff Bezos says Amazon needs be better with employees in final letter as CEO

Bezos defended the company's working conditions, which employees have called harsh.

Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos released a letter on Thursday where he conceded Amazon needs &quot;to do a better job&quot; for its workers, though he defended the company&#x27;s working conditions, which employees have called harsh.Why it matters: It&#x27;s Bezos&#x27; final shareholder letter as CEO. He&#x27;s stepping back as the company faces pressure for how it treats employees and its outsized influence that ballooned even more during the pandemic.

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Jeff Bezos says Amazon needs be better with employees in final letter as CEO

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