Did that subject line grab your attention? Well it should have. I just read an article about the culture and business behind the online shoe retailer, Zappos.com.
Although you need to read the entire article if you have any interest in business and retail and how things should now be done, here’s a little blip:
After a week or so in this immersive experience, though, it?s time for what Zappos calls ?The Offer.? The fast-growing company, which works hard to recruit people to join, says to its newest employees: ?If you quit today, we will pay you for the amount of time you?ve worked, plus we will offer you a $1,000 bonus.? Zappos actually bribes its new employees to quit!
I’m sure there are probably some other ways to get the desired result, but money talks right? If someone can’t see that their career with a company over the long-term is more valuable than whatever the going bonus is to get out the way, it works.
I’ve been introduced to a few employees and even the CEO of Zappos.com by being active in the twitter community. It’s impressive to see them “work” with their customers online.
As I told the CEO earlier today, “Where were you in ’96?”, which is when I was graduating from college and looking for an employer. Sadly, Zappos.com didn’t exist then. What would my “today” have been like if I’d started there back so many years ago?
Why Zappos Pays New Employees to Quit?And You Should Too – Harvard Business Online’s Bill Taylor