5 ms·

That's actually very false. Amazon is not hard to get fired from, but it takes time since there's a mandatory pip process (for performance based firing) like in

That's actually very false. Amazon is not hard to get fired from, but it takes time since there's a mandatory pip process (for performance based firing) like in many tech companies (about 4 months in the US, longer in some European countries; it's often shorter if the candidate agrees to take large severance and leave).

hackernews777 5y ago
I thought he was referring to the fact you don't have to be particularly clever or competent person to keep your job. Amazon isn't known for firing people on the spot for honest mistakes (CoE gets filed and life goes on). It's usually more along the lines of people are not doing the work they were assigned to do.
- Sparkyte 5y ago
  Absolutely what I was saying.
- NBJack 5y ago
  I wish that was the case. I've seen brilliant people forced out of their jobs because a particular project was botched: a principal engineer, a former founder of a company bought by Amazon, an amazing director. And those were just the people I encountered on my journey. Amazon certainly won't "fire you on the spot" in most cases; that gets them all sorts of trouble. However, if something got screwed up and your name is on it, I'm sorry to say it's just a matter of time before it comes up in a review cycle. There are good folks at Amazon. Really. But as a whole, I don't see evidence of a company that even attempts to see the long-term value of people.
kempbellt 5y ago
Ah, ye old "Performance Improvement Plan". The passive-aggressively worded, modern version of whipping someone for "not working hard enough". If you ever get slotted for a PIP (such a cute name...), it's probably better to look for new employment as soon as possible.
- crossroadsguy 5y ago
  > If you ever get slotted for a PIP (such a cute name...), it's probably better to look for new employment as soon as possible. I mean that’s like literally the dictionary meaning of PIP :) In my last firm we called it Period of Interview Preparation.

hackernews777 5y ago

I thought he was referring to the fact you don't have to be particularly clever or competent person to keep your job. Amazon isn't known for firing people on the spot for honest mistakes (CoE gets filed and life goes on). It's usually more along the lines of people are not doing the work they were assigned to do.

Sparkyte 5y ago
Absolutely what I was saying.
NBJack 5y ago
I wish that was the case. I've seen brilliant people forced out of their jobs because a particular project was botched: a principal engineer, a former founder of a company bought by Amazon, an amazing director. And those were just the people I encountered on my journey. Amazon certainly won't "fire you on the spot" in most cases; that gets them all sorts of trouble. However, if something got screwed up and your name is on it, I'm sorry to say it's just a matter of time before it comes up in a review cycle. There are good folks at Amazon. Really. But as a whole, I don't see evidence of a company that even attempts to see the long-term value of people.

kempbellt 5y ago

Ah, ye old "Performance Improvement Plan". The passive-aggressively worded, modern version of whipping someone for "not working hard enough". If you ever get slotted for a PIP (such a cute name...), it's probably better to look for new employment as soon as possible.

crossroadsguy 5y ago
> If you ever get slotted for a PIP (such a cute name...), it's probably better to look for new employment as soon as possible. I mean that’s like literally the dictionary meaning of PIP :) In my last firm we called it Period of Interview Preparation.