Amazon's recent announcement to mandate five days of in-office work starting January 2024 is causing a stir across corporate America. The decision, communicated by CEO Andy Jassy in a memo to employees, marks a significant shift from the current policy of requiring staff to be in the office three days a week. This move reflects Amazon's conviction that in-person work fosters better collaboration, innovation, and the reinforcement of company culture. Jassy wrote, "If anything, the last 15 months we've been back in the office at least three days a week has strengthened our conviction about the benefits."
This strict return-to-office (RTO) policy signals a growing trend in the tech industry as companies reconsider remote work arrangements that became standard during the pandemic. Amazon's decision is expected to influence other companies, especially those in the tech and financial sectors, where leaders have been increasingly vocal about the drawbacks of prolonged remote work. Dan Kaplan, a senior client partner at Korn Ferry, noted, "CEOs rarely take a bold stance on return-to-office without consulting their peers first... other business leaders who are prepared to move in lockstep right behind them."
Amazon joins a growing list of companies tightening their RTO policies. Corporations like Citigroup, Walmart, and UPS have similarly revised their flexible work policies, suggesting that the era of widespread remote work may be tapering off, at least for some sectors. However, this shift is not without its challenges, as evidenced by the ongoing struggle to fill offices. Data from Kastle Systems shows that in the first week of September, offices in the U.S. were still only about half as full as they were pre-pandemic.
Brian Elliott, a former executive at Slack and now a work consultant, argues that Amazon's policy might not signal a complete shift back to full-time in-office work for most industries. "We might see other smaller tech companies follow Amazon's lead, but most will continue sticking to some kind of hybrid arrangement," he says. Elliott warns that a "one-size-fits-all" mandate could lead to resentment among employees, particularly high-performers, women, and minorities who may value the flexibility of remote work.
Indeed, the backlash against stricter RTO mandates is palpable. Many employees, particularly in tech, are pushing back against the idea of returning to the office full-time. Some workers at Amazon have already expressed concerns on social media platforms like LinkedIn and X, fearing that their companies might follow suit. For many, the option to work remotely or in a hybrid arrangement has become a crucial factor in their job satisfaction and work-life balance.
Experts believe that Amazon's decision could pose risks, especially in terms of employee retention. Kathy Kacher, a consultant who advises corporate executives on RTO strategies, points out that many leaders have realized the limitations of rigid in-office policies. "Bosses are more accepting of the fact that we might not go back to how things were before the pandemic, given how unsuccessful attempts to crack down on in-office attendance have been in the past," she explains. Kacher adds that as long as productivity and the bottom line remain strong, leaders are less likely to force employees back into the office full-time.
Amazon's move could also disproportionately affect certain groups of workers. Research has shown that women, people of color, and those with disabilities are more likely to opt for remote work, and a stricter RTO mandate could make it harder for these groups to thrive. Erin Grau, co-founder of the future-of-work company Charter, expressed concerns about the potential impact on workplace diversity. "I'm most concerned about diversity," Grau says. "We know who prefers to, and is able to, work full-time in the office. They're more likely to be white men without primary caregiving responsibilities."
Despite these concerns, Amazon's decision to bring employees back to the office aligns with its long-standing emphasis on company culture and productivity. Jassy has been advocating for in-office work for more than a year, arguing that face-to-face interactions help reinforce Amazon's values and drive business success. While Amazon's diversity numbers have remained steady since its earlier three-day mandate, critics worry that pushing for more in-person work could alienate some of the company's best talent.
