Bezos understood that in some quarters, all this might make Amazon an unpopular place to work. But he also felt that the perks factored into those high-profile media surveys of workplace desirability—like lavish compensation, unlimited vacation time, and free meals and massages—had little to do with the passion and purpose employees brought to their jobs. “He once told me, ‘If we ever appear in the “100 best places to work in America,” you’ve screwed this place up,’ ” Niekerk said.
