The return to the office has created tension between Amazon’s management and its employees. Discontent has risen among workers following CEO Andy Jassy’s announcement that the company will require them to come into the office five days a week starting in January 2025.
Matt Garman, the CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), did little to ease employee concerns during a meeting on Thursday at the company’s second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. He reminded staff that they’re free to seek employment elsewhere if they’re uncomfortable with Amazon’s decision. “If there are people who just don’t work well in that environment and don’t want to, that’s okay, there are other companies around,” Garman said. This isn’t the first time an Amazon CEO has made comments along these lines.
The workforce is aligned with Garman. According to a transcript of the internal AWS meeting obtained by Reuters, Garman said that nine out of 10 employees he spoke with supported the new return-to-office policy, which is set to take effect in January 2025. He also invited those who were unable or unwilling to comply with the mandate to resign.
However, it doesn’t seem like his comments have resonated with all employees. A survey conducted shortly after the announcement of the new return-to-office policy indicated a significant disconnect between management and the workforce. In fact, 73% of respondents expressed that they were considering quitting their jobs.
Remote working is against Amazon’s “leadership principles.” According to sources cited by Reuters, Garman emphasized that under Amazon’s current hybrid work model, which requires three days of office attendance, the company didn’t “really accomplish anything, like we didn’t get to work together and learn from each other.” He added that Amazon aims to foster an environment of collaboration, which he believes is crucial for innovation and contributes significantly to the company’s culture.
Garman also pointed out that one of the main issues with working remotely is adhering to Amazon’s leadership principles, which outline how the company should operate. He told employees during the meeting, “You can’t internalize [the principles] by just reading them on the website, you really have to experience them day-to-day.”
You can’t argue over a video call. One reason Garman supports returning to the office is because of one of Amazon’s leadership principles: “disagreeing and committing.”
As reported by Reuters, Garman mentioned that this philosophy can’t be implemented efficiently with remote teams. “I don’t know if you guys have tried to disagree via a Chime call. It’s very hard,” the CEO said, referring to the company’s internal messaging software. He believes that face-to-face discussions and agreements are more productive because they allow employees to develop and express their ideas, as outlined in Amazon’s ideology created by the company’s founder, Jeff Bezos.
Remote work and productivity: an ongoing dilemma. The case of Amazon’s return to the office is part of a broader debate on employee productivity and well-being. Large technology companies, including Amazon, Google, Dell, and even Zoom, have mandated a return to the office, believing it’s essential for maintaining team cohesion and enhancing productivity and innovation. However, a study by the consulting firm Gartner suggests that this approach may backfire, potentially leading to a talent drain as employees resist the stricter on-site requirements.
In contrast, other companies like Microsoft and Spotify have chosen to offer greater flexibility to their employees. By allowing remote work, they aim to retain talent and attract individuals who may have left other organizations while maintaining productivity.
Image | Christian Wiediger
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