Amazon’s Work Culture Puts Spotlight on Stress

Acknowledge Stress Head On Before Workplace Issues Escalate

Amazon continues to be under a microscope this week following a not-so-favorable New York Times article about its work culture.

The article describes the scene at the retail giant’s environment to be fiercely and unapologetically competitive, rife with people crying at their desks and a culture of insensitivity to employees dealing with serious illnesses or family problems.

If the cutthroat atmosphere described in the article is accurate, many employees must be faced with a large dilemma — leave the company and the prestige of working there, or grin and bear it, knowing that stress caused from the job can negatively affect every aspect of their life.

This is the dilemma many American workers face each morning as they head to the office. What is the solution?

The answer may be found in company leaders having the courage to address stress head on, even while acknowledging they may not like the results.

Judging by the many comments in the New York Times, there’s no doubt Amazon has high stress levels — demand, social support and control indices are likely through the roof.

Imagine what damage Amazon could have prevented if they ran a Stress Quotient™ assessment and strategized solutions prior to the New York Times article?

For one, employees might have had an avenue for letting management know about problems, instead of reading about them in one of the nation’s most broadly circulated newspapers.

With measuring stress being such a new concept, many are asking, “When is the time to address stress?”

If Amazon is any indication, it should be now — before problems escalate to the point of attracting the attention of the major media outlets.