7 ms·

Seems cruel to announce this with such a long timeframe before the layoffs conclude. Will leave lots of people worried over the holidays.

GoOnThenDoTell 4y ago
It also gives more time to look for new jobs as a backup
- sokoloff 4y ago
  Which probably represents an adverse selection problem for Amazon. Their best employees have seen their long-term comp prospects decline significantly (along with everyone else), and now have added uncertainty about their future at Amazon, whether or not they're laid off. If they are, they're going into a competitive market with fewer FAANG-level openings being hired for. If they aren't, they're bag-holding for the same amount of software with fewer team members to cover it. Why wouldn't someone look under those circumstances?
  - AgentOrange1234 4y ago
    There could be lots of reasons? Interviewing is a hassle. You might like your job and/or coworkers. You might (justifiably or naïvely) not be worried about being laid off. And with all the layoffs all over lately, you might figure it’s going to be a lousy time to be looking elsewhere.
    - coolbreezetft22 4y ago
      As a parent of two small kids, preparing for interviews is a major hassle if you're not a leetcode wizard. I can barely manage 1 practice question a day because I'm so exhausted all the time. I'm at meta and was fortunate enough to not be laid off but I'm starting to prepare for interviews over the next 6 months and trying to get myself in the mindset that I don't need to be at a "top" company chasing the best TC anymore and should focus more on joining somewhere I can enjoy and believe in the products.
      - cebert 4y ago
        I agree with you completely. I have a two-year-old and five-year-old. My partner and I both have pretty demanding day jobs > 45 hours a week regularly. It’s very difficult for me to leetcode grind and balance everything in my life. I know I could succeed in a lot of these FAANG organizations if I were given a chance, but finding time to grind is difficult. I almost wonder if the leetcode interview style is intentionally designed to favor those with ample free time and no other obligations.
yunwal 4y ago
Not only cruel but unproductive. If I’m on a bloated team at Amazon right now, why would I be working on anything but my resume?
- 300bps 4y ago
  Anytime I’ve been confronted with the possibility of being laid off in my career I’ve put my head down and worked harder. Never been laid off thankfully.
  - autotune 4y ago
    Anytime I’ve been confronted with the possibility of being laid off in my career I’ve put my head down and worked harder. I have been fired or managed out every time.
  - the_jeremy 4y ago
    That can't be the majority opinion, given how most companies try to avoid communicating the threat of layoffs in advance.
  - bmitc 4y ago
    But being laid off rarely has anything to do with performance.
- discodave 4y ago
  One answer would be: Because the 'unregretted attrition' or PIP quota is still a thing! But also, people voluntarily quitting is even better for Amazon.. no severance.
  - rxhernandez 4y ago
    Why should anyone care about a PIP quota? Someone getting laid off or even fired in times like this wouldn't remotely make me think negatively of them.
    - 4y ago
ghaff 4y ago
It's pretty obvious at tech companies generally that things are not as stable or on the upswing as they were a couple years ago. Better to be honest that change isn't over.
- bmitc 4y ago
  Is it professional to treat employees like a line item on a balance sheet and then subsequently mismanage that line item?
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
yrgulation 4y ago
Easier to tame the workforce if kept under threat for longer time. Want to work from home? You may be chopped. Want better working conditions? You may be chopped. That complaint about your manager? You’re at it.

GoOnThenDoTell 4y ago

It also gives more time to look for new jobs as a backup

sokoloff 4y ago
Which probably represents an adverse selection problem for Amazon. Their best employees have seen their long-term comp prospects decline significantly (along with everyone else), and now have added uncertainty about their future at Amazon, whether or not they're laid off. If they are, they're going into a competitive market with fewer FAANG-level openings being hired for. If they aren't, they're bag-holding for the same amount of software with fewer team members to cover it. Why wouldn't someone look under those circumstances?
- AgentOrange1234 4y ago
  There could be lots of reasons? Interviewing is a hassle. You might like your job and/or coworkers. You might (justifiably or naïvely) not be worried about being laid off. And with all the layoffs all over lately, you might figure it’s going to be a lousy time to be looking elsewhere.
  - coolbreezetft22 4y ago
    As a parent of two small kids, preparing for interviews is a major hassle if you're not a leetcode wizard. I can barely manage 1 practice question a day because I'm so exhausted all the time. I'm at meta and was fortunate enough to not be laid off but I'm starting to prepare for interviews over the next 6 months and trying to get myself in the mindset that I don't need to be at a "top" company chasing the best TC anymore and should focus more on joining somewhere I can enjoy and believe in the products.
    - cebert 4y ago
      I agree with you completely. I have a two-year-old and five-year-old. My partner and I both have pretty demanding day jobs > 45 hours a week regularly. It’s very difficult for me to leetcode grind and balance everything in my life. I know I could succeed in a lot of these FAANG organizations if I were given a chance, but finding time to grind is difficult. I almost wonder if the leetcode interview style is intentionally designed to favor those with ample free time and no other obligations.

yunwal 4y ago

Not only cruel but unproductive. If I’m on a bloated team at Amazon right now, why would I be working on anything but my resume?

300bps 4y ago
Anytime I’ve been confronted with the possibility of being laid off in my career I’ve put my head down and worked harder. Never been laid off thankfully.
- autotune 4y ago
  Anytime I’ve been confronted with the possibility of being laid off in my career I’ve put my head down and worked harder. I have been fired or managed out every time.
- the_jeremy 4y ago
  That can't be the majority opinion, given how most companies try to avoid communicating the threat of layoffs in advance.
- bmitc 4y ago
  But being laid off rarely has anything to do with performance.
discodave 4y ago
One answer would be: Because the 'unregretted attrition' or PIP quota is still a thing! But also, people voluntarily quitting is even better for Amazon.. no severance.
- rxhernandez 4y ago
  Why should anyone care about a PIP quota? Someone getting laid off or even fired in times like this wouldn't remotely make me think negatively of them.
  - 4y ago

ghaff 4y ago

It's pretty obvious at tech companies generally that things are not as stable or on the upswing as they were a couple years ago. Better to be honest that change isn't over.

bmitc 4y ago
Is it professional to treat employees like a line item on a balance sheet and then subsequently mismanage that line item?
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

yrgulation 4y ago

Easier to tame the workforce if kept under threat for longer time. Want to work from home? You may be chopped. Want better working conditions? You may be chopped. That complaint about your manager? You’re at it.