When I went to other sites I just had to file a ticket and that was it. If something were to be approved, it was automatic, unless it was a restricted office/building. Maybe it depends on the job role.

Not too unusual, other companies I've worked were very similar.

I think there's a pretty big difference between filing a ticket to open the building next door and having free workspaces around the world you don't have to do paperwork to use.

IIRC it was a very simple ticket with just the building code and expected dates you would be there. Once badged in, you got to use everything inside.

I get that just badging in is a way better experience, but when I travelled to other offices it was just another bullet point on my travel to-do list.

I don’t know/remember what the policy was regarding same-city buildings, as there was just one office in my country.

Same city buildings were also restricted until the ticket was approved or the front desk allowed you in

> At Amazon you can't even open the building next door without approval.

This is not true.

This is absolutely true and has been for years. You’re granted access to the minimum number of buildings required for your job function, and can file a ticket for temporary access grants to other buildings based on need.

It’s absolutely not true and hasn’t been for at least the last 5 years, in my experience.

I have access to every building in my city despite only requiring access to one of them, and I didn’t have to request it.

When I visited Seattle, I had to request access (which required clicking a grand total of 5 buttons in an internal portal and was instantly auto approved) to “the Seattle campus” and was granted access to every building, and still have that access years later. It wasn’t temporary.

Ditto for the other offices I’ve visited, both domestic and abroad. One office internationally I literally showed up and walked to reception and said “hi I work here but I’m visiting from out of town” and they immediately gave me access. I don’t see how this is different from the “second passport” described in the article.*

There are a couple of limited-access offices such as for subsidiary companies, but those are not the majority.

* - the one big difference definitely is the amenities and food, though. Amazon offices don’t have great, or even good, food. And the amenities are lame, most offices don’t even have a gym. There isn’t much of a reason to stop by an office unless you’re specifically there to work.

I worked for Amazon for a bit over two years, followed by Google for a bit over the last decade.

It never would have occurred to me to visit an Amazon office, so I didn't know about the ticket thing. I rarely worked with anyone remote.

When I joined, Google encouraged travel (less so lately). In the time I've been here I've visited over a dozen offices around the world. Some of them on vacation, because I knew there would be something unique about the local office, but also because with the exception of one office (Copenhagen), I'd worked closely enough with someone there to drop by their desk, say hello, shake hands, and get the best restaurant and bar recommendations I've ever found (and some great unexpected dinners with colleagues!)

Guess it depends where you work, because it was certainly true for me.