Becoming a political, toxic environment - Divisional Merchandise Manager Amazon Employee Review

3.0
Dec 24, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

1) A successful model that will one day probably make it the largest retailers in the world, 2) Pay. Employees are very well paid and it makes it hard to leave even if you are miserable. 3) Very smart, talented people to work with. 4) It is cool to say you work at Amazon.com 5) Jeff Bezos is a visionary and always thinking 10 steps ahead. Yes Jeff it is still day 1.

Cons

1) The Top Grading policy of getting rid of the bottom 10% is ridiculous. Amazon already has most of the best people. There are a lot of empty chairs. We have gotten rid of a lot of good people because they no longer met the bar. Well the bar is now too high and there are not enough candidates to fill them. We are interviewing people that we passed on years ago because we have let people go that were better then them. Those people will be let go in less than 2 years and it will cost the company a lot of time and money. Some of the great people that were let go should be hired back over the candidates that are available now. 2) People are miserable because of #1. They feel like it is only a matter of time before they are let go no matter how hard they work and how good they are. Truly a toxic environment where people are being paralyzed by feer. This is not what Jeff intended. 3) Management that is excelling and moving up are the ones that operate best in this environment and play the political game. Move to a new area. Lop off a bunch of heads (of good people) and say that you have raised the bar when in fact all you have done is create chaos and fear and actually slowed down the company from becoming the greatest retailer in the world. Shame on you it will catch up to you in the long term. 4) Some really great people no longer want to work here because of this enviroment and if you want to leave and go work for a company that does not treat people this way as a manager you may get type cast when in fact you do not believe in this at all.

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5.0
Feb 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

pay and schedule. great pay and the work schedule isnt bad either

Cons

fast pace work environment here

5.0
Jan 10, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Really smart people, a lot of opportunity for growth, always encouraged to be innovative, think big, and create something new. Competitive salary and benefits with other major tech companies. 100% self motivating work environment. No dress code and 4 legged friends are welcome.

Cons

You have to be self motivated. NO ONE will hold your hand and tell you that you're doing a great job. If you need constant affirmations from management, this company isn't for you.

3159
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