Hello, I'm an SDE in Europe and have recently received the news from my manager that I have not been meeting expectations and I have been under shadow coaching for several months (since last year, meaning in Focus but I was not given any formal notification, set goals or any specific emails about the progress). The meeting was without the presence of any HR representative. According to my manager, I have the following options: A) PIP, with the option to accept a 30 day challenging plan with some clear and measurable objectives B) take a payment and leave the company C) He referred to this as some "enhanced options", which a high level HR person wants to discuss with me. He didn't know what this represented. Upon insisting, he said he suspected that it has something to do with having the possibility to return to Amazon in the future, as for A,B he said you cannot come back for a number of years. I got contacted by an L8 from HR, for setting up a meeting for explaining the process and potential next steps. Questions: Q1) What can option C refer to, I have not heard of it and neither have found anything about it ? Can it be something beneficial, a special arrangement or just smoke and mirrors? I guess it still involves leaving the company in any case. Q2) Any other general advice? Many thanks for your time in advance ! #engineering #software #swe #swe #pip #amazon
They put you on focus without informing you? How long have you been in Amazon
Very common tactic at Amazon. It's called stealth management
Manager is supposed to at least tell the person that they cannot switch team without approval. Focus training for managers, includes that ask. If that doesn’t happen, one can go to HRBP, or skip. But I would only recommend it if one has decided to leave, because you are essentially pointing out a manager f**k up and that will make the manager for angrier.
Option B.
If you are in France, don’t worry about that. No one can fire you even your poop is scattered on your manager’s desk
I'm in Seattle and didn't have option C. I wonder if that's an European thing
Yes, I'm wondering if it's a real different option or it's just an enticement to speak to HR asap.
I would ask about C because the other options mean you cant return to Amazon
Luxembourg?
I'm in the UK
Talk to a lawyer to explore your options.
I talked to a US lawyer and they couldn't help me. We can only sue if we feel that we have been targeted for our age, gender or race. Maybe labor laws are better in Europe
US lawyers regarding this cannot do shit really
Personally, I wouldn't take that kind of BS, but then again, I avoided AWS when they came calling.
I'm surprised that it is a L8 from HR that wants to speak with you. That is very senior which suggests that there is risk here for the company. I have no idea what they will want to offer or discuss. I'd meet them anyway - just don't agree to anything without asking first to take some time to think it through.
Yes it's rather strange. I'm trying to think if there is any information I should get out of them and ask during the meeting.
Take the money and run