I have been working at Twitch (non-eng) for 5+ years, been a manager for majority of it and moved back to an IC role (my request) in 2021. Despite the expected growing pains of an Amazon-owned company, I had autonomy in my work and enjoyed contributing to my team’s efforts. Work performance was never an issue. In Mid-2022 my manager left abruptly and was replaced by a strategist that came from a consultant background (and isn’t familiar with my team’s space). We do not mesh well together, they are condescending, micromanage, and question the smallest actions. Our 1:1s are tense and awkward, I get tasked with work outside my scope (e.g. data science level reports but I work in BD) and given tight timelines that are becoming difficult to achieve. the stress has become unbearable and I’m not getting good sleep on workdays. With performance review meetings happening, I’m anticipating my manager will put me on Focus and eventually Pivot. I read multiple threads on Blind with how to navigate through this process. One of the most shared responses came from a Seattle employee who exercised their FMLA (paid) after having ample documentation around their work-induced stress. I’m wondering, what options do California employees have with FMLA? Is it paid? If not, are there other ways to receive pay (even if reduced)? If a pivot/pip does occur, I ideally would like to 1) go on a paid leave 2) interview at other companies while gone 3)come back and accept the severance Thanks for reading and open to comments/criticisms. #tech #amazon #focus #pip
Probably trying to make you quit
tbh that’s what I’m imagining too
You're always one wrong manager away from PIP everywhere you go
I have over 20 years of experience in multiple industries. I have NEVER seen anything like Amazon when it comes to pip.
No kidding! I felt crazy writing this post.
Talk to a psychologist. If they recommend, you can get SDI (state disability). My wife has been on leave since Nov.
I am in a same situation. Right now my pivot is paused because i raised concerns with the manager. I dont think they gonna fire him. At the end of the day HR only listens to the manager. This is called corporate politics. I am soon quitting amazon because of this fucking manager. I never came across any manager in my entire career who is toxic as this guy. I would suggesst better choose a different role cause you still havent gone to pivot.
Damn, glad you were able to navigate through it. I reached out my HR but they weren’t any help.
If u r not on official pivot then u should be able to apply jobs internally. No need to wait. But you got to be informing ur manager about your move it sucks i know
And if you are the unfortunate soul put into PIP See below: Shared on Amazon forum please copy and distribute ---------- Lets assume that you are in USA and have one year of penitude / servitude completed with Amazon / AWS so then you are eligible for paid FMLA leave..... this is a well trodden path (its Amazon so there are plenty of medics who will sign off around the WA HQ) so you will have no problems. You do NOT WAIT for PIP but you start now whilst in Focus and your approach should be: 1) Dev List / Focus / Coaching which is the stealth tracking period where your manager does not need to even inform you that they are working against you and coercing your colleagues and others for anything negative (only the negative) against you and measuring you up for a PIP to the head.... you are also blocked from internal transfer without unobtainable VP override. 2) During the above get your medic to listen to your droning about the stress and mental anguish that Amazon / AWS is placing you under... also ask if they can sign off or refer you to a therapist who can do so urgently as the stress is ubearable (use the phrase unbearable stress and anguish and specifically also say that you need some weeks away from it under FMLA)... FMLA evidence flag is set... 3) Amazon manager presents you with Pivot document and you have 5 days to choose Tier 1 severance or take PIP plan.... BANG this is where you submit FMLA into the DLS portal before the 5 days decision period is expired (DLS team need a day or so to respond to you so get this rolling at the start of the Amazon Pivot decision window) and then go on leave. Your backstabbing Amazon / AWS manager and HR cannot intervene if you do this as it is a separate team and *federal* mandated leave. The whole decison window for Pivot / PIP is now mandatorily paused beyond their control.... if it was within their control then they would of course be trying to sink you at every opportunity - its Amazon! 4) Get FMLA paperwork completed by the medic who you have already lined up and prepped earlier and submit that supporting material into the DLS team. 5) Tear through your interview preparation and job hunting networking to hiring companies and dont even consider one hour of work for Amazon... extend FMLA through renewal with the medic up to 12 weeks and throw in caring for family member as that is FMLA allowable too if your family are stressed that you are stressed.... so now you have taken 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave on Amazon's frugal dime. 6) Burn through any paid PTO and sick days before returning to work too as only unused vacation time will be cashed out upon exit. 7) Accept the job offer from a better employer (there are so many compared to Amazon / AWS that if you throw a rock then you will hit upon one), which you undoubtedly will already have received by this time. 8) If you are on a visa then get the visa transfer process rolling under premium processing by the new employer. 9) Return to Amazon / AWS and take the maximum Tier 1 severance option instead of PIP, since every step after not taking that decision reduces the exit payout from frugal Amazon severely. 10) Cash the Tier 1 severance from Amazon and the sign on bonus from your new visa sponsoring employer and roll around on the floor surrounded by hundred dollar bills. 11) Return to Blind and tell the community all about it..... not forgetting to add your new TC tax to the post!!! Bonus level... 12) Rock it like a superstar and position yourself onto hiring panels in your new employer and never ever let an ex-Amazon/AWS manager get through..... your new colleagues will thank you. :-D Fifty percent of new hires gone within a year and average tenure only eighteen months.... hence the RSU vest after two years and tiny low 401K match from third year. Most folks will not see a big chunk of that TC (Frugality Leadership Principle). Rule 1 = Avoid Amazon / AWS Rule 2 = Avoid any companies which hire ex Amazon / AWS managers Rule 3 = Follow Rule 1 and In your next company join the hiring panels to keep Rule 2 enforced It is the way...... and in dealing with Amazon it is a very common well travelled way... happy trails. You are welcome……
Hey I’m actually referencing to this copy-pasta post. Is paid FMLA only available in Seattle? The author of that is text makes it seem like FMLA should be used to take time off while still getting laid but afaik that’s not available in California.
I'll add that if you've been in Amazon for less than 1 year, take Short Term Disability instead of FMLA. You're only eligible for FMLA after 1 year of employment.
Does twitch even have Amazon like pip? Unheard of. Most people on blind say it's not Amazon like by any means.
Thanks OP for startng this CA-specific thread since most info is WA-specific. I just got placed on Focus and it's already pretty horrible. The planning, the time allotted, the way I'm spoken to...I've never experienced anything like it and it's clear this is happening only to satisfy a headcount reduction. Either way, I'm not sure anyone answered this question: Once you're moved into the Pivot/PIP and the 5 days, that's when most file the FMLA. From what I understand, to actually get paid in CA we have to file something else in addition to FMLA. What is it? How long does that take? And when we return from FMLA, is the severance option still available? I already feel like I'm falling apart. Much appreciated.
Did you ever get answer to these great questions? I am currently in the same boat. Planning to file FMLA as soon as I get Pivot served.
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Sorry to hear that. Hope you can get out of this shit
Hey I appreciate the kind comment, thanks for taking the time to read my post.