AMAZON AS AN EMPLOYER

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Amazon is a large US enterprise with a reputation in industry as one of the best places to
work. A report in The New York Times depicts the perils of an ultra-competitive work
environment in Amazon as the cases of employee dissatisfaction grow. Some industry experts
consider this an accepted part of work culture given the startup spirit of Amazon.
Negative employee perception by the news report may prove a deterrent to Amazon's
expansion plan. Amazon is striving towards a zero deadwood policy; hence it is imperative to
have a constant supply of high-quality professionals, and also, there is a need to retain it. Few
employees consider the work environment suitable for their personal growth, but overall, it is
not sustainable. One of the main grievances is the encouragement given to the Negative
feedback policy of employees work. It is considered the source of distrust between peers and
makes them insecure about their future in Amazon, resulting in a high attrition rate.
To improve the job satisfaction and work environment at Amazon, it needs to overhaul its
human resources management, starting with removing the hostile feedback policy. There is a
need to establish a flexible work policy and proper grievance redressal mechanism. The
policies need to be designed keeping women empowerment in mind.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Amazon can continue to innovate by attracting and retaining top-level talent, given its
extreme and pressurized work environment.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
Amazon is one of the largest Internet-based retailers in the United States, and Forbes
regularly included it among the world's most respected corporations. The New York Times
released an article in 2015 depicting Amazon as a cruel employer with harsh human resource
management methods and a toxic work environment. Even though employees were
encouraged to work in this environment, they were in the minority. Amazon's primary aim is
customer satisfaction, and they did not give importance to employee satisfaction.
There is an employee feedback system that encourages them to criticize one another
anonymously. It contributes to a high degree of stress in the job and among coworkers and
reduces motivation. Amazon's stack ranking program pushes managers to put team members
against one another constantly, and the least productive team members are frequently let go
from the firm. This program is relentless, resulting in a hostile work atmosphere and the loss
of valued people.
There is no female in leadership positions, and it is the result of an unfriendly gender
environment at work. Employees are expected to be available whenever there is a need, even
at odd hours. It indicates a lack of focus on workplace health and poor human resource
management.
DECISION CRITERIA AND ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS:
Criterion:
 Job satisfaction and work-life balance of employees is ensured
 Amazon can attract high-quality talent and retain them as well
 Perceived Organizational Support from Amazon is enhanced, and Gender friendly
policy is constituted
 Innovation culture is maintained.

Alternatives:
Alternative 01:
Remove the hostile feedback policy and instead focus on critical peer interaction
Alternative 02:
Design and implement a Flexible work design policy with a gender focus

RECOMMENDED SOLUTION, IMPLEMENTATION, AND JUSTIFICATION:

Here single alternative is not the solution. As per its expansion plans, it is clear that Amazon
has to attract and retain the best talent and keep its competitive edge in the market. It needs
high performing individuals, which may naturally involve working under time pressure and
be innovative at the same time.
It is established research that employees are more creative when they are emotionally stable
and not exhausted continuously. The Machiavellism approach of justifying ends like Amazon
growth, profit and stock price with any means like a toxic work environment does not provide
sustainability in the long term.
Hence, we need to consider the simultaneous implementation of Alternative 01 and 02.
The sword of unending scrutiny from peers through hostile feedback policy is causing
distrust among them. It cannot be said that all the employees are using it for objective
purposes alone but rather to sabotage others careers. This pseudo need for validation from
peers is a significant reason behind the high termination rate. The fear of negative feedback
has made many employees workaholics, making other employers reluctant to hire them.
Amazon should institutionalize flexible work policies like Work from Home and
telecommuting: The working hours are consistently long at Amazon. Employees not putting
long enough hours are at risk of termination even if they face critical personal issues. This
negatively affects the employee's mental health and particularly discourages female
employees' growth due to family and child care burdens. Providing temporary work from
home and telecommuting options will significantly help in reducing the necessity of office
presence and make the workplace gender-friendly at the same time.