People ask about Netflix WLB like there's one answer. There isn't. It depends enormously on team, manager, and what time of year it is. Let me try to be specific.
I joined as a senior individual contributor 18 months ago. My experience:
The good: The freedom is real. I don't have to justify taking a Tuesday afternoon off. I set my own schedule as long as the work gets done. There's no mandatory standup I can't skip. My manager trusts me with decisions that would require three layers of approval at my last company. That's not marketing copy, it actually works that way.
Compensation: genuinely top of market and reviewed seriously every year. I got a base increase last January that I didn't ask for.
The harder parts: 'Freedom and responsibility' cuts both ways. When something goes wrong, the accountability lands on you, clearly and quickly. There's no organizational buffer. I've seen people go from high performer to managed out in about 6 months once they got a poor review. It's not brutal in a loud way, it's just decisive.
The keeper test is a real vibe in your head. Some people thrive on it as motivation. I find it... present. I think about whether I'm producing enough value maybe once a month in a way I never did at my previous job. Not spiraling, but it's there.
Hours: my team averages probably 45-50 hours a week on normal weeks, more during launches. That's higher than what I was doing before but not outrageously so.
Who this works for: People who are self-directed, don't need external structure, can handle ambiguity, and are performing well. If any of those don't apply, Netflix will surface the gap faster than most places.
It's not a relaxed environment. It's a high-performing environment with a lot of autonomy. Those aren't the same thing and I think some people conflate them in the recruiting pitch.