Amazon employees 'strongly dissatisfied' with mandatory return-to-office policy
Top talent may leave Amazon due to the new policy, some fear
A growing number of Amazon employees are expressing strong opposition to the company's recent decision to mandate a five-day workweek in the office.
In an anonymous survey viewed by Fortune, hundreds of corporate employees have voiced their concerns about the negative impact this policy will have on their lives and productivity.
The survey, which has been widely shared among Amazon workers through the messaging app Slack, reveals a significant dissatisfaction with the return-to-office (RTO) mandate.
The average satisfaction rating among respondents is a dismal 1.4 out of 5, with 1 representing "strongly dissatisfied."
Employees are raising concerns about the challenges of commuting, the impact on work-life balance, and the potential for decreased collaboration and productivity.
"I work with people across many time zones. With RTO, they no longer have the flexibility to easily shift hours and collaborate. 3 day had an instant impact here, and 5 day will only be worse," one survey response reads.
Many argued that the company's emphasis on data-driven decision-making is not being reflected in this policy change, as there is a lack of clear evidence to support the benefits of a full five-day in-office requirement.
Employees fear that the policy will lead to increased attrition, particularly among top talent who have grown accustomed to the flexibility of remote or hybrid work.
The survey's creators plan to share the results with CEO Andy Jassy and other company executives, hoping to influence the company's decision.
"We are seeking honest, constructive feedback on the recent decision to require a 5-day return to the office schedule," the survey introduction reads.
Amazon announced the new policy last week, requiring corporate employees to return to the office five days a week starting in January 2025.
In a memo to employees, Jassy explained the importance of in-person collaboration and culture building for the company's continued success.
Jassy said the decision may require adjustments for some employees who have become accustomed to remote or hybrid work arrangements. However, he stressed that the benefits of being together in the office, such as easier collaboration and stronger culture, outweigh the challenges.
"Before the pandemic, not everybody was in the office five days a week, every week," Jassy said.
"If you or your child were sick, if you had some sort of house emergency, if you were on the road seeing customers or partners, if you needed a day or two to finish coding in a more isolated environment, people worked remotely. This was understood, and will be moving forward as well. But, before the pandemic, it was not a given that folks could work remotely two days a week, and that will also be true moving forward—our expectation is that people will be in the office outside of extenuating circumstances or if you already have a Remote Work Exception approved through your s-team leader."
To facilitate the transition, Amazon plans to implement assigned desk arrangements in some locations and provide support to employees who may need to make adjustments to their personal lives.
The company also aims to streamline its organisational structure.
However, many management and HR experts have criticised Amazon's decision, arguing that it could lead to increased attrition among talented employees who value flexibility.
Some see it as an unusual move in the tech industry, where many companies have adopted more flexible policies.
Salesforce recently implemented a policy requiring employees to be in the office up to four days a week, while still providing hybrid and remote work options depending on the role and responsibilities.
Similarly, Disney and Starbucks have introduced mandates for in-office work, with Disney requiring four days and Starbucks three days per week.
Josh Bersin, CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, told Newsweek that research shows employees prefer flexibility and that productivity is higher with flexible work arrangements.
A recent FlexJobs survey also revealed that 57% of remote workers would seek a new job if forced back to the office.