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> Amazon said it didn't time workers' toilet breaks... That means they set really high targets for middle-managers and then let them get creative with the rule

> Amazon said it didn't time workers' toilet breaks... That means they set really high targets for middle-managers and then let them get creative with the rules. > ...and set its performance targets based on previous worker performance. That means they cherry pick their best performing employees and set global standards based on the top n%. > The company said it provided coaching to help people improve... That means they write people up when they can't meet performance standards or quotas. > ...and used "proper discretion" when it came to sick leave and absences from work. And that means they write people up when they don't show up. > The company also said it provided on-site occupational health and physiotherapy support... They do that because real doctors and PCP's are way more costly to the insurance plan. > as well as legal,... That's when HR puts together a meeting with a lawyer who tells you quitting is stupid because of the NDA. > ...financial,... That's when an employee asks for a raise and HR sends them to a meeting with a financial consultant who tells them "You don't really need a raise, you need a budget!" > ...and workplace guidance. That's where they teach you not to drink water so you can meet your quotas.

perseusprime11 9y ago
According to Bezos, there are two types of decisions- 1) type 1 - where Bezos does not time workers' toilet breaks, and 2) type 2 - where he lets middle managers to create their own rules. It's always Day 1 :)
- iopuy 9y ago
  I'm not sure I understand this comment. Day 1? What are you referencing?
  - krapp 9y ago
    "It's always day one" is of Amazon's corporate slogans - I think it's something Jeff Bezos personally came up with. It's supposed to mean that every day is a learning experience... or something.
  - kelnos 9y ago
    It's a Bezos thing. The idea is that every day is "Day 1". Just because you or your company has been around for years and years or that you've hit a major milestone, you can't rest on your laurels. You need to approach every day as "Day 1" with regard to your attitude toward innovation and moving quickly.
dang 9y ago
Cheap outrage is great for upvotes, but what's the substance here? Factual basis? Commenters to this site need to do better than this. This is not a defense of Amazon, and I probably feel similarly to most people who read HN. But that's no reason not to hold ourselves to a fair standard. Commenters: if you're not in the mood to hold yourself to a fair standard, please comment somewhere else until you are. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

perseusprime11 9y ago

According to Bezos, there are two types of decisions- 1) type 1 - where Bezos does not time workers' toilet breaks, and 2) type 2 - where he lets middle managers to create their own rules. It's always Day 1 :)

iopuy 9y ago
I'm not sure I understand this comment. Day 1? What are you referencing?
- krapp 9y ago
  "It's always day one" is of Amazon's corporate slogans - I think it's something Jeff Bezos personally came up with. It's supposed to mean that every day is a learning experience... or something.
- kelnos 9y ago
  It's a Bezos thing. The idea is that every day is "Day 1". Just because you or your company has been around for years and years or that you've hit a major milestone, you can't rest on your laurels. You need to approach every day as "Day 1" with regard to your attitude toward innovation and moving quickly.

dang 9y ago

Cheap outrage is great for upvotes, but what's the substance here? Factual basis? Commenters to this site need to do better than this. This is not a defense of Amazon, and I probably feel similarly to most people who read HN. But that's no reason not to hold ourselves to a fair standard. Commenters: if you're not in the mood to hold yourself to a fair standard, please comment somewhere else until you are. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html