FYI, this article is back from September 2008. I'm not sure whether or not this practice is still in place now that they've grown exponentially.
Yeah, doubt the same thing can be done in today's climate where we have a 10% unemployment rate.
Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
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Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#12FYI, this article is back from September 2008. I'm not sure whether or not this practice is still in place now that they've grown exponentially.
Agreed. It was definitely an interesting article in its time, as the concept of 'support as marketing' was (for me at least) when first presented.
That said, does anybody know if this is still a practice they keep post-acquisition?
Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#13I wonder if 97% will still stay when the economy gets better and there's a reasonable certainty of finding another job in short order.
I'm lead to believe that if you're the type of person who would leave for that reason then Zappos doesn't want you as an employee.
The money isn't about the sort of person that would leave for $3k.
It's about people who immediately discovered they don't want to work there - but can't leave after a month because they just paid an apartment deposit, or moving costs. These people are going to spend the next 3-6months looking for work while costing you money. That's who you desperately want to get rid of on day 1.
Most companies do exactly the opposite - they hire you in Nowheresville Nev but if you leave after a month you have a big chunk of location/training/recruitment expenses to pay back. These companies are actively forcing you to stay there - hating them - for 6/9 months while you job hunt. And they somehow think the rules boost 'retention'!
Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#14Is that $3,000 after taxes or before? It's not really that much (either way) unless you really needed the instant money on the spot. $3000 might only be 2-3 weeks of pay or less. Offer $10,000 and see how well it works out.
As far as I know this is offered for $15/hour call center people in Las Vegas (or something like that). Friend of mine told me that is about $2000 in first week and then after training it is $3000.
This is quite significant chunk of money for Las Vegas area.
I have no reference or proof that above is how it works, just information from person who is familiar with Zappos.
Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#15I wonder if 97% will still stay when the economy gets better and there's a reasonable certainty of finding another job in short order.
I'm lead to believe that if you're the type of person who would leave for that reason then Zappos doesn't want you as an employee.
Not just because someone knows the rule he likes and plays by the same rules aswell
Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#16FYI, this article is back from September 2008. I'm not sure whether or not this practice is still in place now that they've grown exponentially.
Yeah, doubt the same thing can be done in today's climate where we have a 10% unemployment rate.
Last year Amazon.com had almost a billion dollars in net income. It's quite likely that they can afford to maintain their hands-off approach with regards to subsidiaries, preserving Zappos' unique culture.
edit: good catch BobbyH.
Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#17That's about what banks offer people in foreclosure to quietly leave the house and not destroy anything. Same thinking.
Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#18Mind games like this has a name when a SO tries something similar.
Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#19Is that $3,000 after taxes or before? It's not really that much (either way) unless you really needed the instant money on the spot. $3000 might only be 2-3 weeks of pay or less. Offer $10,000 and see how well it works out.
As far as I know this is offered for $15/hour call center people in Las Vegas (or something like that). Friend of mine told me that is about $2000 in first week and then after training it is $3000. This is quite significant chunk of money for Las Vegas area. I have no reference or proof that above is how it works, just information from person who is familiar with Zappos.
Wow? For a call center? I know that if the call center I worked for in college did that, there wouldn't be anyone left after training.
Re: Zappos offers new employees $3000 to quit after a week
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, doubt the same thing can be done in today's climate where we have a 10% unemployment rate.
Last year Amazon.com had almost a billion dollars in net income. It's quite likely that they can afford to maintain their hands-off approach with regards to subsidiaries, preserving Zappos' unique culture. edit: good catch BobbyH.
To clarify, $24.5 billion was Amazon's revenue in 2009. Net income was only 3.7% of that, or $902 million.