I don't think that's fair. Free lunch isn't 'free', it's just part of your compensation package. At least some SV companies don't have it - I'm pretty sure Apple doesn't.
If someone asked you if you'd prefer an additional $500 per month or free meals, what would you say? I imagine it'd be at least a toss-up.
On-call and paternal leave aren't great, but again, it's a factor into a job decision.
I guess my tacit assumption is that most people who get dev job offers from Amazon also get job offers from other places (or could if they so chose) because the job market for CS is so good. So if they take the Amazon job, they must think that the lack of niceties is outweighed by either the pay or the work they'll do.
This probably won't be the case for their warehouse workers, who might in many cases have a choice between Amazon and unemployed.
I don't know about you, the last offer letter I got had on page 1 the specific details (salary, options, whatnot) and on page 2 the perks (which included meals).
It's implicit. When you weigh up job offers, you look at what the job gives you; the busywork and the compensation. Perks are a clear part of that compensation package; the perks are part of the pay.
Yes, you should absolutely view a company that offers free meals as giving you an extra $amount you spend on food each day, or you should subtract the same amount from a company that doesn't.
If someone asked you if you'd prefer an additional $500 per month or free meals, what would you say? I imagine it'd be at least a toss-up.
On-call and paternal leave aren't great, but again, it's a factor into a job decision.
I guess my tacit assumption is that most people who get dev job offers from Amazon also get job offers from other places (or could if they so chose) because the job market for CS is so good. So if they take the Amazon job, they must think that the lack of niceties is outweighed by either the pay or the work they'll do.
This probably won't be the case for their warehouse workers, who might in many cases have a choice between Amazon and unemployed.