Live data from Hacker News

Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

nytimes.com

1–10 of 223 posts

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#2
Jeff Bezos encourages employees a "careful read" of the NYT article and the read of "a very different take by a current Amazonian" on LinkedIn.

What I see is a company with a big PR department who hasn't succeeded to spin positive stories about their HR in newspapers. We'll see in the next months whether they prop up their game.

Besides, if you face a difficulty with your work environment, don't talk to HR™. They are paid to exclude any PR hazard from the company.

NB: Moderator/dang, please merge with https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10072753

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#3
I've been reading various comments about this around the internet and many people are saying they will stop ordering from Amazon because of it.

These white collar workers are highly paid, and not forced to be there. Most of them could easily find another job someplace else (and it sounds like many do). I just can't feel bad for them. If you don't want to work throughout your vacation, go find another job that won't make you work through your vacation. This isn't North Korea, Bezos isn't going to throw you in a reeducation camp.

I will keep ordering from Amazon because they provide the best service. Simple as that.

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#4
> But if you know of any stories like those reported, I want you to escalate to HR. You can also email me directly at jeff@amazon.com. Even if it’s rare or isolated, our tolerance for any such lack of empathy needs to be zero.

I say don't escalate to HR but leave to work at another place. HR is not your advocate, it is not there to help you. You are just a "resource" just like it says in the name.

There have been many cases I've heard (personally and from HN comments) where someone would go to HR, complain about harassment by their manager, get assurance of confidentiality, and the next thing you know the manager is told right away. Or the person who complained gets punished instead.

Now you can try to go public and force its hand to basically realign HR's interest (protect the company) with yours (you get heard and the problem is fixed). But that won't be forgotten in the long term.

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#5
post #3

I've been reading various comments about this around the internet and many people are saying they will stop ordering from Amazon because of it. These white collar workers are highly paid, and not forced to be there. Most of them could easily find another job someplace else (and it sounds like many do). I just can't feel bad for them. If you don't want to work throughout your vacation, go find another job that won't m…

Unless you're on a visa and having a job is a requirement of keeping said visa.

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#6
post #5
post #3

I've been reading various comments about this around the internet and many people are saying they will stop ordering from Amazon because of it. These white collar workers are highly paid, and not forced to be there. Most of them could easily find another job someplace else (and it sounds like many do). I just can't feel bad for them. If you don't want to work throughout your vacation, go find another job that won't m…

Unless you're on a visa and having a job is a requirement of keeping said visa.

That is the same situation at any company with H1B's, and I didn't see anything in the article that mentioned abuse of those workers specifically.

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#7
post #3

I've been reading various comments about this around the internet and many people are saying they will stop ordering from Amazon because of it. These white collar workers are highly paid, and not forced to be there. Most of them could easily find another job someplace else (and it sounds like many do). I just can't feel bad for them. If you don't want to work throughout your vacation, go find another job that won't m…

Honestly, I would need to see white collar women shackled to computers in dilapidated warehouses on 60 minutes before I had to give up 2 Day Shipping, and even then I'd probably convince myself that the exposure means change is happening and start using again

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#8
post #3

I've been reading various comments about this around the internet and many people are saying they will stop ordering from Amazon because of it. These white collar workers are highly paid, and not forced to be there. Most of them could easily find another job someplace else (and it sounds like many do). I just can't feel bad for them. If you don't want to work throughout your vacation, go find another job that won't m…

I just think they shouldn't act like such jerks and treat employees like human beings who are on your team. Sure they have the ability to leave, I'm just trying to support better behavior though.

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#9
post #4

> But if you know of any stories like those reported, I want you to escalate to HR. You can also email me directly at jeff@amazon.com. Even if it’s rare or isolated, our tolerance for any such lack of empathy needs to be zero. I say don't escalate to HR but leave to work at another place. HR is not your advocate, it is not there to help you. You are just a "resource" just like it says in the name. There have been man…

When I worked at a multinational with hundreds of locations, HR turning up at site was sign that somebody was going to get it in the neck - HR didn't bother with small stuff so if they were about you knew it was serious for someone.

[Edit: Made me think about how ghastly it must be to work in HR for a large company]

Re: Jeff Bezos Says Amazon Won’t Tolerate ‘Callous’ Management Practices

#10
post #4

> But if you know of any stories like those reported, I want you to escalate to HR. You can also email me directly at jeff@amazon.com. Even if it’s rare or isolated, our tolerance for any such lack of empathy needs to be zero. I say don't escalate to HR but leave to work at another place. HR is not your advocate, it is not there to help you. You are just a "resource" just like it says in the name. There have been man…

There is book a called Corporate Confidential [1], written by a former HR person. One of most significant ideas there is that HR is (from the perspective of an employee) not your friend, but rather an enemy. They exist to protect the company, not you. Basically, going to HR is a quick way to get fired (for legal reasons, mind you) or kill your career.

Whole book is highly depressing, but very useful if you want to try to climb up the ladder.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Confidential-Secrets-Company...

Post reply on HN