Amazon mandates its employees to return to working in the office, causing widespread discontent.

Amazon has announced to its employees that they must return to the office for five days a week. Matt Garman, the CEO of Amazon Web Services, confirmed in a meeting with all employees that those who do not wish to comply with this policy can look for other job opportunities.

This decision comes as the company prepares to implement the new policy in January next year. According to Garman, nine out of every ten employees he spoke to supported this change, emphasizing that his statement was not harsh but aimed at fostering a collaborative work environment. He noted that innovation at Amazon relies heavily on personal interactions, which are difficult to replicate in a remote work environment.

However, this new direction has sparked discontent among some of Amazon’s workforce. Many employees express concerns that commuting may be a waste of time and that studies do not show the benefits of working in the office compared to remote work. CEO Andy Jassy recently announced the shift from a three-day in-office work policy to five days, stating that this decision will enhance collaboration and innovation.

It is worth noting that some employees who resisted this policy were informed that they resigned voluntarily, and the company’s systems were then shut down. Amazon’s firm stance on returning to office work contradicts other major tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, which have more flexible hybrid work policies.

Nevertheless, Garman remains optimistic about the upcoming changes, stating that he is excited about this new direction, acknowledging that not all employees share the same enthusiasm. He emphasized the importance of leadership principles at Amazon, pointing out that applying these values in a remote work environment may pose a challenge. He highlighted the principle of “disagree and commit,” where employees are encouraged to express their concerns but must also align with the company’s goals. He mentioned that this culture does not transition well to virtual communication platforms like Amazon’s Chime, saying “I don’t know if you’ve tried disagreeing over a Chime call – it’s very difficult.”