Amazon has lost more than 35 percent of its share price over the past 12 months. Amazon reportedly bases the issuance of restricted stock units to employees on the belief that Amazon's shares will increase in value by at least 15 percent annually. By linking total compensation to the business's long-term performance, Amazon's compensation model aims to inspire employees to think like owners. The model carries some risk and potential upside from year to year due to the stock price's volatility. However, historically at Amazon, it has performed extremely well for employees who have taken a long-term perspective, according to an Amazon spokesman.