Amazon, the largest Internet-based retailer in the United States, has frequently

figured among the most admired companies.

• However, an article published in The New York Times portrayed Amazon as a soul-
crushing employer and a cruel place to work.

• According to the article, employees at Amazon are encouraged to be critical of

each other’s ideas and performance
— both openly, during meetings, and covertly, by sending negative feedback to each
other’s bosses.

• Long hours are the norm, and employees with dependent care and medical issues are
viewed as liabilities.

• Employee attrition is, as a result, exceedingly high.

• Most of the ex-employees interviewed for The New York Times’ article described
the culture as toxic and difficult to survive in.

• A few employees felt that Amazon was the best place to work for people who are
passionate about their profession.

• Nonetheless, both Amazon and its CEO, Jeff Bezos, have experienced a decline in
their public rankings since the publication of the article.