Amazon's performance improvement programs
A diagram about how Amazon PIP works
An Amazon employee is labeled as
an underperformer by their manager.
They are enrolled in the ‘Focus’ program.
The program coaches staff on how to improve.
Employees have criticized the system.
If employees improve,
If managers aren’t satisfied,
they exit Focus and keep their job.
they go to another program called “Pivot”.
Pivot option one:
Pivot option two:
Leave Amazon with a
payout of about$30K.
Stay in current role and complete
tasks along with a written report.
If employees pass,
For those who fail,
they can return to their jobs.
they have two options.
Option one:
Option two:
Take a smaller payout
around$11Kto leave.
Appeal to a jury of peers or one
manager picked partly by Amazon.
If they lose,
If employees win their appeal,
they exit Pivot and can join a new team.
Although that’s not guaranteed.
they are fired and get about
$5Kin severance.
An Amazon employee is labeled as
an underperformer by their manager.
They are enrolled in the ‘Focus’ program.
The program coaches staff on how to improve.
Employees have criticized the system.
If employees improve,
If managers aren’t satisfied,
they exit Focus and keep their job.
they go to another program called “Pivot”.
Pivot option two:
Pivot option one:
Leave Amazon with a
payout of about$30K.
Stay in current role and complete
tasks along with a written report.
If employees pass,
For those who fail,
they have two options.
they can return to their jobs.
Option one:
Option two:
Take a smaller payout
around$11Kto leave.
Appeal to a jury of peers or one
manager picked partly by Amazon.
If they lose,
If employees win their appeal,
they exit Pivot and can join a new team.
Although that’s not guaranteed.
they are fired and get about
$5Kin severance.
An Amazon employee is labeled as
an underperformer by their manager.
They are enrolled in the ‘Focus’ program.
The program coaches staff on how to improve.
Employees have criticized the system.
If employees improve,
If managers aren’t satisfied,
they exit Focus and keep their job.
they go to another program called “Pivot”.
Pivot option one:
Pivot option two:
Leave Amazon with a
payout of about$30K.
Stay in current role and complete
tasks along with a written report.
If employees pass,
For those who fail,
they can return to their jobs.
they have two options.
Option one:
Option two:
Take a smaller payout
around$11Kto leave.
Appeal to a jury of peers or one
manager picked partly by Amazon.
If they lose,
If employees win their appeal,
they exit Pivot and can join a new team.
Although that’s not guaranteed.
they are fired and get about
$5Kin severance.
An Amazon employee is labeled as
an underperformer by their manager.
They are enrolled in the ‘Focus’ program.
The program coaches staff on how to improve.
Employees have criticized the system.
If managers aren’t satisfied,
If employees improve,
they exit Focus and keep
their job.
they go to another program
called “Pivot”.
Pivot option two:
Pivot option one:
Stay in current role and
complete tasks along with
a written report.
Leave Amazon with a payout
of about$30K.
For those who fail,
If employees pass,
they have two options.
they can return to their jobs.
Option two:
Option one:
Appeal to a jury of peers or
one manager picked partly
by Amazon.
Take a smaller payout
around$11Kto leave.
If employees win
their appeal,
If they lose,
they are fired and get
about$5Kin severance.
they exit Pivot and can join
a new team. Although that’s
not guaranteed.