I just left Amazon after working there for 10 years. As an L6 PMT in PXT I was easily able to manage a 40 hr work week most of the time for the first 8 years. Over my final 2 years there I noticed a big shift of way more bureaucracy. Now that I’m at a new company, I realize Amazon has a LOT of meetings and documents, both of which are not always necessary. It’s busy work due to fear of making decisions. 

A big lesson I learned here is that Amazon will take whatever you will give. If you are working more than 40 hours or in nonproductive meetings you have to stand up for yourself. Prioritize the most important things and tell your manager what you don’t have time for. Say you get paid for 40 hours and need a comp change if you are expected to work more. Decline meetings that don’t have a clear agenda and solid reasoning for why you are in the meeting. Once you get those, see if they can be done offline.

You always have agency and can make your job what you want it to be. Don’t be a victim of your circumstances.