In the recent New York Times article “Inside Amazon,” Amazon claims that its culture is peculiar. Actually, it is peculiarly American. There is a long history, in many U.S. workplaces, of carving business success out of the dedication and self-sacrifice of workers. As practiced, this model reflects the philosophy of American individualism, which sees people as responsible for their own outcomes, and celebrates the triumph of the individual over any and all obstacles. Stressors are to be overcome, not eliminated, and a person’s ability and character are assessed by how well he or she deals with job stress (“If you can’t take the heat, you should stay out of the kitchen”).
But is this the best way to do business, or the best business model for the local community and society in general? We would argue that this model has many hidden costs, invisible to organizations and workers alike.