This is one of the longest pieces I've read in a while, and yet I couldn't put it down (stop scrolling).
I saw the post shared on LI as well, once I've gotten the chance to reread and get my thoughts together, I'm putting it everywhere. I didn't have the same military or corporate civilian experience as you Tony, but similar patterns and insights into leadership and toxicity make your expose resonate at a ridiculous level with me.
Not an uncommon problem in large, employee heavy companies. Some do better than others but often it is the luck of the draw where you work and for whom, as you noted early in the piece. As important as quarterlies are, no company which cannot balance the competing interests of its owners, employees and customers is not a fit place to attempt a career. 40 years in the rail industry left little doubt about what was most important; and I had a wonderful career compared to what you describe. Other colleagues working for other bosses would echo your experience.
Veterans as recruits is not a one sided story as I'm sure you would agree. Some do not adapt well to a civilian environment. Some have every bit as much contempt for civilians as some civilians have for them. Civilian managers have no experience in dealing with the unique veteran issues; that could be addressed.
Force reductions are a part of any business and that process sucks on a good day. It can be done correctly, even if at some short term cost.
I told every one of my new hires to never forget that the primary reason to work is to feed yourself and your family, everything else comes after that. Elbert Hubbard counseled that if you didn't respect your employer you were honor bound to quit.
I'm sure the Teamsters will help Amazon find the path...
I've come to believe that companies that advertise themselves as "veteran-friendly" are like car dealerships with signs that say, "We finance E-1 and up". They're recruiting veterans for all the wrong reasons.
I can't disagree. I know there are some great businesses out there doing it for the right reasons and in the right ways -- most of them small and medium enterprises and not corporations. But it's turned into just another fleece.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. This program has had many names over the years, but in short, companies get a tax credit (almost $10k in 2024) for hiring veterans, not retaining them. Amazon is just monetizing the tax incentive that the federal government is offering.
“I don’t regret the decision. But I wouldn’t do it again.”, reads like my thoughts about SERE school. Great article! Thank you for your thoughts on this.
Incredible piece. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability. I left Amazon after more than a decade on my own as well. I felt foolish for believing I mattered and that the LPs were real. I've gone to therapy to process the intense feelings of hurt, frustration, and embarrassment. I worked like a dog during the pandemic and then after record profits, to see the layoffs, was more than I could bear. I loathed myself for believing a lie for so long and recruiting others to such a place.
Very well written. You detailed my experience to a “T”.
Amazon had many managers and very few leaders. I thought I could make a difference, but the culture didn’t allow it. I knew I wasn’t going to stay at Amazon for a second career, but I wanted to stay long enough to receive my hiring bonus; two years for $35,000 and some RSUs. I took the beat-down to shield my team from the BS, but I realized I couldn’t do it any longer without compromising my values/morals. I walked away after about 28 months knowing that if I stayed for another 60 days I would be able to cash in RSUs for another $20,000; it wasn’t worth it.
Great article! Thanks for clearly articulating a very real and accurate experience.
Bruh, where have you been hiding all my life? Did we just become best friends? Drop me a line at gcv.friends@gmail.com. Let's get you on one of my podcasts. Brilliant article.
It’s interesting that when Amazon is presented with the numbers that you backed into, they just say “That’s not entirely accurate.” But of course they have zero numbers on retention that they’re willing to release. Great article. The evidence is damning. I will definitely ensure every veteran I know gets a copy of this one.
An eye opening article. I interviewed there in 2012 for a IT job in Seattle and a friend warned me back then that they would run you into the ground. I declined the offer.
As someone who spent time inside Amazon, I can say with confidence: the veteran trap is real. The culture is built on high ownership and relentless pace; for veterans, that can feel familiar in all the wrong ways. You’re praised for pushing through, for never quitting, for taking on more than is reasonable. And because you’ve been conditioned to adapt and endure, you do. Until it breaks you.
What’s most dangerous is how normal it all starts to feel. You mistake burnout for growth; chaos for challenge. And Amazon’s surface-level support; wellness weeks, token acknowledgements only serves to blur the line further.
Veterans deserve better than a culture that exploits their strengths without protecting their wellbeing. Thanks for putting words to what so many have felt but struggled to express.
Hi Erica -- I'm not under any obligation to remove it. But my mind is open to consideration if you can help me understand why you want to revoke the permission you granted for it to be publicly available.
This is one of the longest pieces I've read in a while, and yet I couldn't put it down (stop scrolling).
I saw the post shared on LI as well, once I've gotten the chance to reread and get my thoughts together, I'm putting it everywhere. I didn't have the same military or corporate civilian experience as you Tony, but similar patterns and insights into leadership and toxicity make your expose resonate at a ridiculous level with me.
Thank you for this, excellent work.
Not an uncommon problem in large, employee heavy companies. Some do better than others but often it is the luck of the draw where you work and for whom, as you noted early in the piece. As important as quarterlies are, no company which cannot balance the competing interests of its owners, employees and customers is not a fit place to attempt a career. 40 years in the rail industry left little doubt about what was most important; and I had a wonderful career compared to what you describe. Other colleagues working for other bosses would echo your experience.
Veterans as recruits is not a one sided story as I'm sure you would agree. Some do not adapt well to a civilian environment. Some have every bit as much contempt for civilians as some civilians have for them. Civilian managers have no experience in dealing with the unique veteran issues; that could be addressed.
Force reductions are a part of any business and that process sucks on a good day. It can be done correctly, even if at some short term cost.
I told every one of my new hires to never forget that the primary reason to work is to feed yourself and your family, everything else comes after that. Elbert Hubbard counseled that if you didn't respect your employer you were honor bound to quit.
I'm sure the Teamsters will help Amazon find the path...
I've come to believe that companies that advertise themselves as "veteran-friendly" are like car dealerships with signs that say, "We finance E-1 and up". They're recruiting veterans for all the wrong reasons.
I can't disagree. I know there are some great businesses out there doing it for the right reasons and in the right ways -- most of them small and medium enterprises and not corporations. But it's turned into just another fleece.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. This program has had many names over the years, but in short, companies get a tax credit (almost $10k in 2024) for hiring veterans, not retaining them. Amazon is just monetizing the tax incentive that the federal government is offering.
“I don’t regret the decision. But I wouldn’t do it again.”, reads like my thoughts about SERE school. Great article! Thank you for your thoughts on this.
Incredible piece. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability. I left Amazon after more than a decade on my own as well. I felt foolish for believing I mattered and that the LPs were real. I've gone to therapy to process the intense feelings of hurt, frustration, and embarrassment. I worked like a dog during the pandemic and then after record profits, to see the layoffs, was more than I could bear. I loathed myself for believing a lie for so long and recruiting others to such a place.
Very well written. You detailed my experience to a “T”.
Amazon had many managers and very few leaders. I thought I could make a difference, but the culture didn’t allow it. I knew I wasn’t going to stay at Amazon for a second career, but I wanted to stay long enough to receive my hiring bonus; two years for $35,000 and some RSUs. I took the beat-down to shield my team from the BS, but I realized I couldn’t do it any longer without compromising my values/morals. I walked away after about 28 months knowing that if I stayed for another 60 days I would be able to cash in RSUs for another $20,000; it wasn’t worth it.
Great article! Thanks for clearly articulating a very real and accurate experience.
Bruh, where have you been hiding all my life? Did we just become best friends? Drop me a line at gcv.friends@gmail.com. Let's get you on one of my podcasts. Brilliant article.
I'll drop you a line Will -- thanks for reading and for recommending and promoting the site. Would love the opportunity to come on the podcast.
Sorry also for this embarrassingly slow response. You caught me in a mad minute that lasted 6 weeks.
Keep up what you're doing -- I enjoy reading your work.
It’s interesting that when Amazon is presented with the numbers that you backed into, they just say “That’s not entirely accurate.” But of course they have zero numbers on retention that they’re willing to release. Great article. The evidence is damning. I will definitely ensure every veteran I know gets a copy of this one.
An eye opening article. I interviewed there in 2012 for a IT job in Seattle and a friend warned me back then that they would run you into the ground. I declined the offer.
This piece really hit home.
As someone who spent time inside Amazon, I can say with confidence: the veteran trap is real. The culture is built on high ownership and relentless pace; for veterans, that can feel familiar in all the wrong ways. You’re praised for pushing through, for never quitting, for taking on more than is reasonable. And because you’ve been conditioned to adapt and endure, you do. Until it breaks you.
What’s most dangerous is how normal it all starts to feel. You mistake burnout for growth; chaos for challenge. And Amazon’s surface-level support; wellness weeks, token acknowledgements only serves to blur the line further.
Veterans deserve better than a culture that exploits their strengths without protecting their wellbeing. Thanks for putting words to what so many have felt but struggled to express.
I’d appreciate my name and photo be removed from your blog.
Hi Erica -- I'm not under any obligation to remove it. But my mind is open to consideration if you can help me understand why you want to revoke the permission you granted for it to be publicly available.