The “Pivot” program partners a failing employee with a so-called “subject matter expert,” also known as career ambassadors, who mentor the employee. Amazon had faced criticism for its infamous performance improvement plan that some employees have called a “death sentence.”

Last year the firm introduced a pilot allowing select part-time workers to qualify for full-time benefits following a negative article in The New York Times, as reported.

"Pivot is a program for employees who show a sustained period of underperformance, despite coaching and support,” an Amazon email notes. “The program provides employees with options to (1) improve performance, (2) voluntarily leave Amazon with severance, or (3) appeal their manager’s decision to place them in Pivot.”