[louistsi]

Doesn't always mean the same thing, "managing out" could mean firing, but it could also mean creating an inhospitable environment for work, like demotion, allocating drudge work, removing responsibilities, etc. To manage them out of the company "by their own choice", which is unfortunately just as bad if not worse.

[bayraktar]

It could also mean creating an inhospitable environment for work, like demotion, allocating drudge work, removing responsibilities, etc.

Right - it's actually far worse than outright firing or laying off people. As in, genuinely harmful to people from a psychological (and hence physical) point of view. All so the company can save a few dollars, and hit certain quarterly targets a bit sooner.

That's why there's a name for it (since long before the "quiet" meme), and legal precedents that are supposed to prevent companies from doing this (if any of them would take heed, which of course they won't):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructive_dismissal

So the question to our friend thrwawayacc up above is -- OK, so this is what the director told you to do (and thanks for for sharing, BTW). But are you actually going to -- go through with what you were told to do? Are are you going to tell these people at the director level some version of:

I understand your concerns, and the financial position that the company in. But at the end of the day, this isn't the right way to go about conducting what everyone can plainly see it as -- a layoff. Ultimately, if we go this route, it will be harmful to the company's reputation and long-term growth -- but more importantly, it will cause genuine harm to people who, until now, have been considered part of the Amazon Family.

If Corporate insists on going this route, there's no way I can stop them of course. However, for my part, in my role, I will not be be able to participate in this extremely ill-advised course of action.

This is your moment. So what's it going to be?

[gamjQZnHT53AMa]

Sounds like you're suggesting to him that he gets himself put on the "managed out" list. I get your point completely, and agree with it to an extent. But if I put myself in that position, what would I do? I'd like to think I'd take the honorable approach you suggested, but I've also got bills to pay, kids to support, plans I want to achieve. Getting myself "managed out" at the expense of all of those things would be hugely problematic.

[lr4444lr]

Being psychologically stressed out at work is not in and of itself hostile work environment. Read the US law section in the link you posted. The employee actions have to violate preestablished rights or part of thr employee's contract. Not merely ramping up work expectations and duties to keep your job.

[wikfwikf]

It doesn't have to be this evil (although I have no reason to believe it won't at Amazon).

A good manager can do some 'managing out' simply by communicating to her team that there are reduced opportunities for promotion or new projects coming up, and that they may be layoffs. At any time in any workplace a certain fraction of people are actively looking for a new job, and another, usually much larger fraction are open to a move, might be hearing from recruiters, etc. A manager can create a mood of "if you have a decent offer, you should take it" without making people's lives miserable.

[bombcar]

If everyone is roughly performant this works. But if they are not, you may lose the good performers and keep the bad.

[sidlls]

That would be “constructive termination”. It’s too bad the deck is stacked against labor such that it is so hard to actually prove. But that’s why I keep a detailed journal of my activities and make copies of the overwhelmingly positive peer reviews I receive at performance reviews.

[ohgodplsno]

Yep, it's exactly what I'm saying. Managing out people is the kind of thing that ought to be punished by law (and in many sensible countries, is). Just fire people.

[dsq]

I recall reading somewhere that this is the way orgs get rid of tenured workers. They can’t be fired outright, so the org creates a lot of little micro-aggressions that cause them to yearn for release from the torment.

[antihero]

Possibly one of the greatest examples of "Lawful Evil"