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10 year Amazonian here. I think we have one of the most expensive perks of all: an active, expansive, downtown campus. That's not cheap, those towers cost billi
by colmmacc 9y ago
10 year Amazonian here. I think we have one of the most expensive perks of all: an active, expansive, downtown campus. That's not cheap, those towers cost billions, and there's a reason many big technology competitors are in more suburban locations (Redmond, Mountain View, Kirkland, etc ...). But it really is something to be able to get to and from work relatively quickly via public transport, to be in the middle of a cool city with great restaurants and food trucks, and to be so easily able to socialize with colleagues and friends.
But it's true that we don't have free cafeterias, free sodas, gyms (though we do have free on-campus workouts and yoga classes) and so on. We do have some other unusual perks though: our mailrooms get the "Amazon" shipping rates from USPS/DHL/FedEx, and since Amazon is one of their biggest customers, it's really really cheap to ship personal packages. We have a dog park with awesome puppies that's 17 stories up, with a crazy view of the Puget Sound and Downtown Seattle.
There's lots of less tangible things like that, but in general, people aren't here for the perks.
- aaronbrethorst 9y ago> get to and from work relatively quickly via public transport I have to lol a little at this, given that it's faster to walk up Denny than take the 8 bus during rush hour.
- exogen 9y agoDoesn't get more "public transport" than using a public sidewalk via free manual transport. ;) (The fact that you can feasibly walk to work is an even bigger benefit.)
- atomical 9y agoI have never thought of location and a building as a perk. It is easy for even a moderately funded company to have an office in the downtown of any major city.
- discoursism 9y agoA perk is not a perk because of the ease of providing it or its cost. It's a perk because it's a benefit not part of core compensation. And it is true, none of the other tech giants have downtown HQs (although plenty of Google satellite offices are in urban centers, at least).
- atomical 9y agoThere is a formal definition, but not everyone will agree building and location are perks.
- bbgm 9y agoFood trucks and restaurants aplenty. Being in an urban campus is one of my favorite things about being here (also for 10 years)
- itronitron 9y agoso, being able to buy lunch from a food truck is a benefit of working at Amazon?
- adventured 9y agoHaving access to the significant diversity of food choices that downtown Seattle offers, that non-urban campuses do not, is the obvious perk.
- freeperk 9y agoFinding free perks outside of work is the perk. Personally, my perk is Gold Club in downtown SF.