Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has sparked controversy among his employees over his stance on the company’s return-to-office policy, which requires corporate workers to be in the office at least three days a week. Jassy told employees that it was “past the time to disagree and commit” with the policy, and that those who could not do so “probably” would not work out at Amazon.
What is the return-to-office policy?
The return-to-office policy was announced by Jassy in February 2023, shortly after he took over from Jeff Bezos as the head of the e-commerce giant. Jassy said that he and his senior leadership team had decided that employees should be in the office “the majority of the time” or at least three days a week, starting from May 2023.
Jassy argued that being in the office was essential for fostering Amazon’s culture of innovation, collaboration, learning and communication. He said that there were many scenarios where the company had to make decisions without perfect data, and that face-to-face interactions were more effective than remote ones. He also said that there would be some exceptions to the rule, but only for a “small minority” of employees.
How did employees react to the policy?
The policy was met with resistance and criticism from many employees, who felt that it was unfair, unnecessary and out of touch with the changing realities of work in the post-pandemic era. Some employees said that they preferred working from home for various reasons, such as saving time and money on commuting, having more flexibility and autonomy, and balancing their personal and professional lives.
In May 2023, hundreds of corporate employees staged a walkout at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters to protest against the policy, as well as other issues such as climate change and labor rights. An internal Slack channel advocating for remote work had nearly 33,000 members, according to The Associated Press. Some employees also called for Amazon to release data to support Jassy’s claims about the benefits of being in the office.
What did Jassy say in response to the backlash?
In an internal Q&A session earlier this month, Jassy defended his position on the policy and urged employees to accept it. He said that it was “past the time to disagree and commit” with the policy, using a phrase from Amazon’s Leadership Principles that means leaders should respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, but once a decision is made, they should commit fully to it.
Jassy also said that if employees could not disagree and commit, it was “probably not going to work out” for them at Amazon. He said that it was not right for some employees to be in the office three days a week while others refused to come in. He said that he and his leadership team had looked at available data and felt that meetings were not as effective in a remote environment.
What are the implications of Jassy’s remarks?
Jassy’s remarks have sparked further outrage and disappointment among some employees, who felt that he was dismissing their concerns and threatening their job security. Some employees said that they felt betrayed by Jassy, who had previously expressed support for remote work and flexibility. They also said that they felt demoralized and disillusioned by Amazon’s culture, which they perceived as rigid, hierarchical and insensitive.
On the other hand, some employees agreed with Jassy’s remarks and supported his vision for Amazon’s future. They said that they valued being in the office with their colleagues and managers, and that they believed in Amazon’s mission and values. They also said that they trusted Jassy’s judgment and leadership, and that they were willing to adapt to the policy.
Jassy’s remarks have also raised questions about Amazon’s ability to attract and retain talent in a competitive market, where many other tech companies have adopted more flexible and hybrid work models. Some analysts have suggested that Amazon may face challenges in hiring and retaining employees who prefer more autonomy and choice over their work location. They have also suggested that Amazon may need to reconsider its policy in light of changing customer expectations and demands.