This is easily verified. A search on my LinkedIn account for previous employer Microsoft / current employer Amazon brings up 832 results (you may get more or less, depending on your LinkedIn connections.) I get 578 results going the other way.
I love working for Amazon. I get to work on extremely interesting problems that have a huge impact on the company's global operations. I rarely work more than 40 hours a week. I don't work on weekends. I am compensated very well. My management shows real concern for my well-being (after my father passed away I was told to take as much time off work as I needed. I returned to work after 10 days, and was immediately asked if I wanted to take more time off.) In contrast to what you hear, most people I work with seem happy to be here.
The difference is that Amazon gives out stock. IBM didn't for software engineers when I was there a few years back. My base salary at Amazon is the same as it was at IBM. However including stock my total compensation at Amazon is 2-3 times what it was at IBM.