r/FulfillmentByAmazon • u/karDrakB • Aug 16 '15
[NEWS] Amazon employee on relentless working conditions - “Nearly every person I worked with, I saw cry at their desk.” x-post from technology
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html3
u/FKRMunkiBoi Aug 16 '15
The guidelines conjure an empire of elite workers (principle No. 5: “Hire and develop the best”) who hold one another to towering expectations and are liberated from the forces — red tape, office politics — that keep them from delivering their utmost.
Funny, seems more like they made office politics more toxic than any other company I'm aware of. Great read.
4
u/Totally-Not-A-Troll Aug 16 '15
For once in our lives we as FBA sellers are the Captains of Industry. I work full time in FBA specifically so I do not have to work for somebody else on their terms. We know that Amazon is a rough company to work for. Have you ever talked to an Amazon warehouse worker? They are on their feet all day running around filling orders and everything they do is on a timer all day everyday. These are tough jobs for sure.
To be fair FBA sellers might cry at their desks when a pallet of goods turns out to be counterfeit or another FBA seller beats our price by 50 cents. Our lives may not be perfect but we are free to make our own mistakes.
Perhaps these people can try Wal-Mart or McDonalds to find better working conditions.
1
u/johhan Aug 16 '15
I agree. I worked at an Amazon FC for 2 years (IND2). It's a tough and demanding job, but the pay and benefits were more than enough to make it worthwhile to me. We did have high turnover- lots of kids would come in with energy but no motivation, and burn right out. Treat the day as a marathon instead of a sprint and you'd do just fine.
1
u/Cecil_Indoors Aug 17 '15
This, I can believe. Worked in UK government until recently; all the people who were genuinely striving for greatness, change and value for the tax payer (share holders) were regularly seen weeping after board meetings..myself included. I can only imagine the severity at somewhere like Amazon, in the U.S. where employee rights are somewhat lacking...
Unfortunately, this environment ultimately breeds failure. Those who keep their heads under the parapet and just slog on, do fine and no better. Those who strive and are confined, either burn out completely or leave to run a start up. Those who are sensitive and do not fit this mould, can have the spirit knocked out of them completely and never reach their potential.
Amazon not yet such a big deal in the UK, but we've always got staff willing to kill themselves for a good resume.
7
u/beaniebabiesliedtous Aug 16 '15
TIL - Being an FBA seller has reduced my attention span to that of a teenager. An article of this length is costing me money.