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Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

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Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#131

Post by throwaway84742 »

anonazon123 wrote: post #22

No change since the NYT article. Amazon only changes things when it has to, and only in a lip-service kind of way. There was a flurry of discussion and proposals when the article was published, but it's all died down and we're back to where we were beforehand. Compensation, culture, and perks are infinitely better at Google, Facebook, Lyft, Uber, etc. All of them start vesting your stock monthly after 1 year, whereas…

I heard FB starts vesting monthly right away these days, which imo is absolutely the way it should be. Google, take notice.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#132

Post by ytwySXpMbS »

charliesome wrote: post #95
swarnie_ wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I definitely stay at work, and stay on campus longer because of the free breakfasts and lunches.

I don't understand how this is an argument in favour of free food/drink. You're selling whatever additional time you give to your employer for a rock bottom price. It's not a good deal.

I don't think he is arguing for free food/drinks, nowhere did he say he was arguing in favour.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#133

Post by w_t_payne »

sjapkee wrote: post #122
swarnie_ wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I definitely stay at work, and stay on campus longer because of the free breakfasts and lunches.

Spend your free time on work... Very stupid idea.

Depends on the relationship that you have with your employer.

I always (in the past) tried to drink the kool-aid as much as I could ... (until that got abused) ...

If I start a business, one of my main goals is going to be to build a team that does justice to the passion that it's members put in to it.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#134

Post by skate22 »

anonazon123 wrote: post #22

No change since the NYT article. Amazon only changes things when it has to, and only in a lip-service kind of way. There was a flurry of discussion and proposals when the article was published, but it's all died down and we're back to where we were beforehand. Compensation, culture, and perks are infinitely better at Google, Facebook, Lyft, Uber, etc. All of them start vesting your stock monthly after 1 year, whereas…

I know some amazon employees that work in a WeWork office. Free beer & food regularly

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#135

Post by humanrebar »

anonyme_101917 wrote: post #56
cm2012 wrote: post #16

The talk here about sticking at a job that makes you cry, when you have in demand skills and can work anywhere, is nuts to me.

It's mostly the compensation. I make twice as much at AWS as I did working as an engineer at non-tech companies. Other comments on this post indicate that Google and FB pay more than Amazon, but I'd probably have to take a sizable pay cut to work elsewhere.

> ... I'd probably have to take a sizable pay cut to work elsewhere

There are other companies besides Amazon that say this. Because of this, it can't possibly be true. The only way to know for sure is to brush up your resume and see if you can get some better offers. Don't take your boss's promise that you're well paid. They can't possibly be objective about it.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#136

Post by DoubleGlazing »

pjc50 wrote: post #101
anonazon123 wrote: post #22

No change since the NYT article. Amazon only changes things when it has to, and only in a lip-service kind of way. There was a flurry of discussion and proposals when the article was published, but it's all died down and we're back to where we were beforehand. Compensation, culture, and perks are infinitely better at Google, Facebook, Lyft, Uber, etc. All of them start vesting your stock monthly after 1 year, whereas…

I'm curious, does this apply to all of Amazon globally? I was considering Amazon Dublin and would be interested to hear what it's like there.

I interviewed for a C# dev job at their new Dublin offices in the old Irish Nationwide building. I had to attend a recruitment open day watching presentations about why Amazon is so great and then come back a few days later for a surprisingly easy technical and HR interview.

Despite being refurbished their work space looked very basic and clinical, but at least there were good views on the higher floors. No free food, just tea and coffee.

The package they offered me was pretty poor. Salary was above average for my skill level, but zero perks. No share options, no flexi-time, and a PRSA pension scheme instead of a real one.

I asked about perks only to be told they weren't offering such generous packages at that time. I found this odd as I didn't contact them, they found my details on LinkedIn and approached me. In those circumstances I would have expected some perks to sweeten the deal.

I declined the offer.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#137

Post by chimprich »

rusk wrote: post #107
mjlee wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a cheap perk that makes employees happier. Employee happiness is important.

It also means you don't have to put energy into sorting out your lunch, which I see personally as a huge productivity boost.

It's also generally more cost effective for the company to buy food in bulk compared to passing the cash onto you in your salary for you to buy food on an individual basis.

Plus (and this is dependent on the company handles the providing free food business), food cooked or prepared on site is potentially healthier and tastier than whatever calorific sandwich and chocolate bar you picked up on the way to work. Healthier and happier employees are a win for both parties.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#138

Post by krylon »

charliesome wrote: post #95
swarnie_ wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I definitely stay at work, and stay on campus longer because of the free breakfasts and lunches.

I don't understand how this is an argument in favour of free food/drink. You're selling whatever additional time you give to your employer for a rock bottom price. It's not a good deal.

> It's not a good deal.

It is, though, for the employer. I think the GP was trying to say that free food/drinks are a bad place to start saving money.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#139

Post by akerro »

BigTex420 wrote: post #9

Out of the 6 coworkers I’m close with, I’ve seen every single one of them cry for work related reasons at least once over the past year. Peak is hell.

Either your friends are emotionally unstable or should report abuse and leave the company. Seriously, why be so unhappy with your workplace? Do they work in North Korea?

Re: Ask HN: Amazon software engineers, how is the work culture now?

#140

Post by sjapkee »

w_t_payne wrote: post #133
sjapkee wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spend your free time on work... Very stupid idea.

Depends on the relationship that you have with your employer. I always (in the past) tried to drink the kool-aid as much as I could ... (until that got abused) ... If I start a business, one of my main goals is going to be to build a team that does justice to the passion that it's members put in to it.

What can be a passion for business that is not even yours? You want the impossible.
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