Amazon is said to be compelling some employees to move as part of an enforced company policy that mandates three days of work per week in the office, Bloomberg’s sources disclosed. This will impact employees who were recruited for remote roles and those who relocated during the height of the pandemic.
Those working remotely for Amazon are expected to report to the main offices or “hubs” including those situated in Seattle, New York, and San Francisco, as well as potentially other locations, as noted by The Wall Street Journal. Yet, decisions regarding who needs to relocate and to which location, will be determined on a department-by-department basis. It is yet unclear how many employees will be asked to uproot their lives, as the company has not set a concrete figure.
In a conversation with Bloomberg today, an Amazon spokesperson shared that the company has noticed “increased energy, collaboration, and connections” since the implementation of the in-office work policy, which was announced by CEO Andy Jassy in February. This policy has been perceived as an added burden by parts of the workforce, especially given its coincidence with mass layoffs that started in late 2022, impacting approximately 27,000 employees. In May, hundreds of employees staged a walkout in protest against this office return policy and the company’s insufficient actions regarding climate change.
An Amazon representative expressed to Bloomberg, “As we strive to bring more teams together in the same locations, we will continue to communicate directly with employees on decisions that may impact them.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Amazon Return-to-Office Policy
What is Amazon’s new return-to-office policy?
Amazon has implemented a policy that mandates employees to work from the office for three days per week. This policy may necessitate some employees, especially those hired for remote roles or who relocated during the pandemic, to move to be near one of Amazon’s main hub offices.
Who will be affected by this policy?
The policy is expected to impact employees who were initially hired for remote positions and those who moved to different locations during the peak of the pandemic. The decision about who has to relocate and to where will be made on a departmental basis.
Where are the main hub offices located?
The main hub offices of Amazon are located in Seattle, New York, and San Francisco, and potentially other locations.
How has the workforce responded to this new policy?
The workforce has had a mixed response to the new policy. Some employees have viewed it as an additional burden, especially in light of widespread layoffs that started in late 2022. In May, hundreds of workers staged a walkout in protest against the return-to-office policy and the company’s perceived insufficient response to climate change.
How has Amazon justified this return-to-office policy?
An Amazon representative explained that the company has seen “increased energy, collaboration, and connections” since the implementation of the in-office work policy. The company continues to assess ways to bring more teams together in the same locations and intends to communicate directly with employees on decisions that may impact them.
More about Amazon Return-to-Office Policy
- Bloomberg’s report on Amazon’s return-to-office policy
- The Wall Street Journal’s coverage of Amazon’s office locations
- CEO Andy Jassy’s announcement in February
- Coverage of the employee walkout in May
- BuyTechBlog’s product recommendations
5 comments
Seriously, Amazon?? This is just crazy.. We are in 2023 not 2019. Companies should be more flexible after all we’ve been thru…
well I guess it’s not enough that they laid off so many of us last year, now they wanna make the rest move back to offices. Great going Amazon!
i understand the need for in-person collaboration but forcing ppl to relocate seems extreme. It’s like the whole remote work movement didnt even happen!
Is there a reason behind this other than “more energy”? Seems like a backward move. Amazon was known for its progressive policies. Seems like that’s changing now.
How can they ignore the environmental impact of all these employees commuting back and forth!?!? They’re supposed to be making positive changes for climate, not the opposite. Im very disappointed 🙁