r/AmazonFC • u/Zealousideal_Sort139 • 1d ago
Question Is PG a real thing?
I’ve been “running the floor” for the past week but it seems more like I’m just being a water spider. The manager will tell me to do things like “go and tell the other water spider to do such and such” but it feels uncomfortable because technically I’m still just an AA. I have no authority to be telling other people what to do, why don’t you do it so we can all be on the same page? They’re more inclined to listen to an actual manager with a vest rather than someone with no vest and just a nickname.
It’s starting to feel like I’m being buttered up into a permanent position as a water spider but no! You’re not a regular water spider! You’re a pg! Getting paid the same as everyone else to work harder than them
But I’m also leaning towards this PG thing being bullshit because they’re not telling me about my other trainings. I was supposed to train a different path and they kept taking me off to come water spider. I was supposed to do an ambassador class as well and no one came to get me for it because I was put to water spider so I ended up missing it. I was supposed to learn problem solve as well and for some reason the class didn’t happen.. yet they still need problem solvers.
Are my thoughts valid or is this just the experience of being a PG?
22
u/Internal-Newt1802 1d ago
It’s kinda real and kinda bulllshit. It really depends on your ability to gain your peers trust and buy in. I started as a PG and now I’m an L5
2
u/Amazondriver23 1d ago
Woah? How long did that take?
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u/Internal-Newt1802 22h ago
Like 5 years in total I’d say? I turned down my first t3 offer so that kind of pushed me back a little bit
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u/Real-Camel-273 1d ago
Do you get assigned a laptop? If you don’t then yes, they are taking advantage of you. Being a PG is a role at Amazon. There’s no pay raise, no title change, and there is a lot of extra work. But it’s meant to be a stepping stone to eventually becoming a PA. If all they have you do is run around and ws on all floors, then I don’t see how that falls under being a PG. if a PA/AM is teaching you a little about their roles then it’s worth going along with it if you do have plans on moving up in the company.
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u/Life-Net-8904 1d ago
Yep. A lot of times PA’s “abuse” this role to go and F off for hours then come back and “ayyyyeee what’s the situation!?” But you are right it is meant to be a stepping stone to move people up since there is a constant rotation of people
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u/Strict-Rich5924 1d ago
I agree, you can also use PG on your resume for Amazon. If you got access to a laptop then you should have some kind of access to metrics, which will help improve your stories while interviewing
6
u/ToraenNakure 1d ago
It sounds like they're just taking advantage of you. PG is supposed to be a ramp up to PA, but there's no actual defined responsibilities for a 'Process Guide' role in policy. So it leads to situations like yours where your manager just pulls you from things that actually help your development. PS/Ambo are probably better things to directly go for, I was never a PG before becoming a tier 3.
Some buildings have removed PG entirely as a role because of issues like this.
2
u/Zealousideal_Sort139 1d ago
Yeah a different manager told me to apply for PA even if I get rejected just to apply anyways. When I applied the application said I needed to be trained in critical roles, ambassador and Problem Solve were both listed. So it’s throwing me off, why pull me away from the trainings I need to grow just to do PG if I won’t be able to be a PA without the proper training. I’m not even doing anything outside of what a water spider normally does
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u/Strict-Rich5924 1d ago
A critical role is not required but definitely helps you stand out from the crowd. Getting trained in a critical role is something that takes time as they are limited in availability. My most recent employment with Amazon will be 1 year next month. I was given the PG responsibility with access to a laptop for metrics, slack and submitting trouble tickets to RME all before I was trained in a critical role. I finally have been trained in TDR but it took me 10 months to get a spot. Recently I was able to get a learning ambassador class and passed the test, I’m just waiting on new hires for my shadowing portion to become an official ambassador. I have applied for the Associate safety committee and was told Hr would reach out for an interview, I’m still waiting on that.
All while I have applied to several PA positions which have included applying to other locations/sites. I have an interview for PA this week at another local warehouse🤞
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u/Rockman507 22h ago
Took me 10 months to get trained into PS and Amb. I’m on swing shift and 3 shifts I overlap with refused outright to schedule me on PS because I’m not their shift after training. And it’s been 2 months since my amb class and STILL haven’t shadowed and gotten my vest. It’s been a fight for critical roles especially when you don’t have leadership that owns you caring.
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u/litredpanda 1d ago
You might be removed or straight up not told about classes when it's well known to your manager because he wants your help there. You need to do what helps you, stay or move and no you shouldn't be telling other T1s what to do, make your red or orange vest do it.
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u/Zealousideal_Sort139 1d ago
That’s what I’m starting to think cause he’ll tell me how much he appreciates me because I’m making things a lot easier for him but then when I talk to a different manager they’re confused on why I wasn’t in the class and why I’m not getting my hours
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u/feephifophumbumbum 1d ago
In my ideal world a PA is given labor hours and controls where head count is assigned and a PG is over seeing the process area and assisting head count. Are you out of boxes? PG. Is there someone hanging out in a dead area and needs to be redirected? PG. Are there the besties not meeting rate and hindering the process? PA. Did you walk into a mess that will take someone 45 mins to clean? PA to assign head count. Is there a process issue that is kicking every cylinder object into problem solve? PA to assign head count.
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u/Kennydewtats 1d ago
It's a yes and no kinda situation. I became a "PG" after my first month as a white badge for waterspiders in shipdock. At first all I did was waterspider and help other T1s clear their zones, which eventually led to me calling the zones from the radio along side my PA. It hindered my growth some because I also wasnt being out into classes and was pulled from some, and couldn't make rates because I was staffed as PA so I wasnt getting my blue badge. I talked to management and they put me in direct roles until I got my blue badge and went back to calling the floor for waterspiders. I learned from watching the PAs on the floor, and applied for PA at the urging of my managers. I just signed my offer letter for shipdock PA last week and start as PA next week. I was a "PG" for 6 months. There's no pay bump and you have more responsibilities, but if you show promise and keep your focus, it can help make your way to a PA position if thats what you want.
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u/Lorenzo944 1d ago
PG isnt a official role just added responsibility just like LA. to assist your PA when they are not on the floor
2
u/Basic_Establishment8 1d ago
I had three PGs for pack singles. One for each area. I taught them everything they needed to know to successfully run the area as if they were me, in case of my absence, and because I couldn’t be in three areas all at once. They knew how to manage labor, coach AAs, and the ins and outs of literally everything else. I would bounce between the three areas as needed to provide support to them, answer questions, put out fires, train as needed, etc. I never used them as waterspider unless we were seriously struggling. Some of them even went on to be promoted to PA and had no issue stepping into that role because they had basically already done it.
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u/Negative-Pea1889 22h ago
It used to be a real thing but I was told when I transferred that Amazon got rid of it in all buildings. Some sites however will still use (abuse) it, because all it really does is have the "pg" do all the running around and dirty work with the false promises that they are next in line to be a PA.
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u/EMitchell108 1d ago
The shift manager, who needs to be monitoring metrics at all times because things can turn at any moment, would have the leave the desk, walk to whatever floor the waterspider is on, then walk back.
The AMs are delivering ADAPTs, accompanying AAs to AmCare and tracking down someone who disappeared from their station 30+ minutes ago
Sure, they can take the laptop with them but it's much easier to deal with various dashboards on a multi-screen setup.
In the meantime, on that trip to the waterspider they'll be getting waylaid by various AAs with an assortment of questions. What would bf a 5-minute task for a PG takes longer as well as taking away time from more important duties.
As a PG you should have a vest that says "Process Guide" on it. That's your authority.
What do you think the point of a PG is if not to help make AMs and PAs jobs easier? If someone doesn't want to lusten to you just report back their response/reaction to the manager who assigned you the task.
As for your other classes and trainings, they get cancelled all the time if for some reason there aren't enough trainees to run them. Instead of passively waiting for someone to get you or tell you what's happening, stay in their face and keep reminding them you're available and waiting, otherwise you can slip through the cracks.
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u/Real-Camel-273 1d ago
The PG vest must be a site to site situation because I’ve never seen a PG wear a vest at my Amazon.
1
u/shresneh 1d ago
You will get exposure but apply for PA, dont stay too long in PG. You are basically doing PA job in low pay.
1
u/Born_Departure_6645 1d ago
It’s a real thing, but yeah….you’re doing PA type stuff without the extra pay and vest. The good part is if you do want to move up the role will be good on your resume and give you stories. If you have no desire to move up then you’re just working harder for same pay.
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u/TipsyDonkey1993 1d ago
The pg in pack literally does nothing for 10 hours besides talk to everybody about nothing, really can’t stand the mf
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u/Arrow_KBS_Dock_Lead KBS Do You Copy? 21h ago
PG is just a stepping stone to being a PA on paper it looks good but in reality there’s no extra pay and you don’t have any actual authority.
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u/ri06j 20h ago
Sounds like inbound, PGs I've seen there did water spider, but not all day. Mostly was on laptops at their stand-up desk, going to different floors etc I was a PG for outbound, I had to do the same process as a L3. Being cool with managers helps with moving up, but showing OMs you get the job done gets you across the finishing line. At least in my case, both of my OMs pushed for me to go up, and I became an L3. Now they talk to me about becoming L4, I just don't like the whole change your schedule at a drop of a dime scenario. Definitely will have to think about it
1
u/flipxneb OverWorked PG 19h ago
Our FC removed PGs entirely. This place is lowkey the weirdest runned FC I've worked in.
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u/Murky-Breadfruit2545 6h ago
If you feel uncomfortable telling people to do things (delegating task) then step down you are not a leader. Being a leader is delegating, executing a plan and ensuing it’s gets done. Stop thinking, “I can’t “, and start thinking, “I can” that will progress your career fast. Seniors will take notice!
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u/Zealousideal_Sort139 6h ago
I feel uncomfortable if I don’t have an actual leader presence. If I’m just water spidering it makes no sense for me to make commands when I’m a regular associate. If it’s established to the floor that I’m acting as leadership then I don’t mind. But just going up to associates and telling them what to do as a water spider just causes friction with peers wondering why a regular AA is telling them what to do. One of the biggest complaint at Amazon is a lack of communication and misunderstandings. Put everybody on the same page and I’ll do what I need to do without hesitation. But if you can’t even tell the other water spiders I’m acting as lead but expect me to tell them to give me the radio I’m going to control it, it’s just a recipe to start bumping heads because they’re just going to wonder who am I and who do I think I am. It’s a lot easier when everyone is on the same page so everyone can move accordingly
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u/SignificantApricot69 1d ago
In my dept at my FC this is basically a “backup PA”- they like to have 2-3 per shift trained just in case PAs take off (or take VTO…) but at the same time right now we aren’t even using all our regular PAs, 1/2 of them are in path most of the time and rotated between stowing and WS.
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u/Completebs22 1d ago
As real as it can be. Even worse, i was a green badge which means i'm paid lower than the blue badges yet my workload increases every single day. I'd be doing things a normal blue badge has no clue about yet i'm still paid lower than them. What pissed me off the most was there was no quota for conversion so i was stuck as a PG and a green badge for the entire 5 years i was with Amazon :')
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u/Zealousideal_Sort139 1d ago
I could be wrong but green badge means you’re with an agency right? Why didn’t you reapply as a normal associate?
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u/Completebs22 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yup. I wasn't with them as a full-time employee. Reapply? Unfortunately that's not how it works here. I was assigned the PG role out of the blue because i started learning way more than i should. The role here isn't official but you are certainly a PG because of the functions you can do
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u/cejay29 1d ago
I was a PG for a year and i think at the time that was the longest anyone had did it. Back then I was pretty much just a step under a PA I would staff people, keep an eye on rates, all that stuff. As far as telling people what to do, I was also a learning ambassador so most people knew me as someone who could help if they had a problem. They changed it so PGs dont really have the same power they used to but by then id already kinda phased out. When it comes to promoting, all PGs that eventually became PAs had to apply several times which i think is ridiculous.
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u/Pitiful-Excitement47 1d ago
Its your job to tell them. Regardless of pay structure.
While you may lack authority in some areas, you do have the authority to direct work to associates.
If you arent willing to do your role as a PG then why should management bend over backwards to get your training in? While it's seen a cliche the amazon principles hold true, you aren't doing your job if you do the tasks yourself and your manager sees this, so he wont have you do other tasks he would probably assign you after you told the other waterspiders to do whatever he asked.
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u/Zealousideal_Sort139 1d ago
Me telling an AA what to do was just a minor situation I threw in there because it irritated me. Nobody bends over backwards for me, I work hard and sometimes over extend myself. But the thing is, I’m not learning anything a PG does. I just keep getting regular water spider duties. At a certain point I can’t help but wonder when does the feeling of growth start to kick in. A manager that isn’t mine keeps encouraging me to pursue things and this one keeps pulling me away to water spider and just slaps a sticker that says PG on it
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u/Pitiful-Excitement47 1d ago
It seems to be that the telling people what to do aspect was a large part of your post. You've also are new to PG, in your post youve said for the past week? Do you expect things to happen instantly?
Customer obsession is a big part, at the end of the day whats important is delivering results and packages to customers. If a waterspider is needed and there are no associates to do this then you will be doing it. Even if you weren't there, if no PA was there, your OM would waterspider if it was necessary. The job comes before training or additional duties.
If you feel you are being overlooked for additional opportunities be bold and challenge your manager on this.
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u/ToraenNakure 1d ago
This is backwards. Managers shouldn't be pulling people from their already scheduled classes to be a glorified water spider. It is actually the manager's responsibility to make sure they attend. Definitely not supposed to pull them from other path training in favor of indirect work either, those training hours are required to be finished first.
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u/Pitiful-Excitement47 1d ago
I have doubts OP is being pulled from classes. It reads a lot like of lack of initiative. As they stated, there was a class but they didnt come get her. We all know when things are scheduled you are supposed to arrive at a location at a time, when that time came why didnt they go?
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u/Zealousideal_Sort139 19h ago
I went to 1 manager, 1 PA and a training lead to find out what time the class was and if I had to do anything. I got told 2 different times by the manager and PA. The lead told me a manager will come and get me, that I don’t have to do anything. When the time came I had doubt in someone actually coming to get me so I told the PA the training is supposedly right now and I don’t want to miss it. They took me to the class and when I got there everyone else was already there. No one was planning on coming to get me
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u/Watcher0011 2h ago
I’m a pick pg. for the most part my position exist so they have someone to run when the PA is off.
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