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Firstly, they are not prizes, they are microscopic chances at prizes. The company is cutting down on cost by playing prospect theory-based games with their empl
by stfwn 8y ago
Firstly, they are not prizes, they are microscopic chances at prizes. The company is cutting down on cost by playing prospect theory-based games with their employees' salary.
Secondly, it is not a reward for working efficiently, it is a reward for working the most efficiently. There is only one winner and the other participants get nothing. The company gets the added value either way of course. This is a great if you want to break up employee solidarity too.
Thirdly, the term 'efficiency' implies there is some sort of process optimization going on; the same energy goes in, more value comes out. I doubt workers are suddenly provided with better tooling during 'power hour', so 'efficiency' probably just means 'run faster, exhaust yourself'.
Finally, you can bet 'power hour' metrics are used to adjust regular productivity targets related to other 'incentives', overall making the jobs more demanding and less rewarding over time.
The whole system reeks of commoditization of labor, treating workers as mere goods that can be bought and systematically manipulated, and thinking about living, feeling humans in this way is disgusting to me.
- mkirklions 8y ago>The company is cutting down on cost by playing prospect theory-based games with their employees' salary. I suppose we cant expect Amazon workers to go into excel and calculate their yearly earnings from prizes? If they did this, its a non issue. But I suppose we can't expect Amazon workers to do this... correct? >The whole system reeks of commoditization of labor You say this like its a bad thing. If you can turn labor into something an unskilled/uneducated worker can do, humanity is more productive. This is the goal of creating processes.
- adetrest 8y agoI guess you've never worked those jobs. Try it for 6 months or a year and then tell us if you still feel that way. It's dehumanizing, and petty to try and squeeze people out this way.
- mkirklions 8y agoWrong guess, I've done my time on minimum wage work. I wasnt going to make a career out of a job that gave me a free shirt for working extra hard. But then again, I'm an engineer, so maybe I make better decisions.
- jsjohnst 8y agoThe condescending tone is likely why you’re being downvoted.
- mkirklions 8y agoNo way, downvotes make HNers feel like they are making a difference against Amazon. Its slacktivism. People don't respond, they downvote.
- effingwewt 8y ago... you say this in response to to someone responding to you and specifically describing why the downvotes are flooding in. Engineers like you give the whole profession a bad name, and we already have one. Seriously, as another poster commented I sincerely hope you can find a way to empathize. One day the engineering bubble may just burst, and you may yet find yourself in a job you hate but need. Perhaps that may help with some perspective?
- dang 8y agoCould you please stop posting unsubstantive comments to Hacker News? https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- adetrest 8y agoRight, those rubes clearly deserve to be treated like shit, unlike you, because you're an Engineer and they aren't. I really hope your life gets better and you find a more empathetic way to look at the world.
- 8y ago
- kirykl 8y agoThe goal of creating processes is to improve. Ideally workers would be skilled, educated, and empowered at improving their own processes