Hundreds of Amazon employees have expressed significant dissatisfaction with the company’s recent mandate requiring a full five-day return to office (RTO), according to an anonymous survey shared widely among corporate staff.
The survey, viewed by Fortune on Tuesday, reflects concerns over how the new policy will negatively impact employees’ lives and productivity, with many calling for the company to reconsider the decision.
The survey, created by Amazon employees, was circulated via Slack, particularly in a “remote advocacy” channel with more than 30,000 members. The responses, largely from employees advocating for remote or hybrid work, revealed an average satisfaction rating of just 1.4 out of 5. The survey organizers plan to share the aggregated results with CEO Andy Jassy and other top executives in an effort to highlight the policy’s perceived challenges and propose alternatives.
Jassy announced the five-day office return mandate last week, signaling the end of the company’s 15-month hybrid work structure. His justification for the change emphasized the benefits of in-person collaboration, culture-building, and more seamless teamwork.
“When we look back over the last five years, we continue to believe that the advantages of being together in the office are significant,” Jassy wrote in his announcement.
He pointed to easier learning, collaboration, and stronger team connections as key advantages of office-based work.
However, many Amazon employees disagree, citing the negative impact on productivity, personal work-life balance, and the logistical difficulties of working with colleagues across different time zones.
“I work with people across many time zones. With RTO, they no longer have the flexibility to shift hours and collaborate,” one respondent noted.
Another major concern raised by employees is the lack of trust in their ability to work remotely, with some predicting that the mandate could drive top talent away.
“The people that leave first are the strong engineers you want to work with,” wrote one employee.
He expressed fears that the policy would lead to a talent drain while others may quietly quit.
Despite widespread dissatisfaction, the prospect of reversing the decision seems unlikely. Last year, a group of Amazon employees submitted a six-page memo opposing a previous three-day in-office requirement, but leadership dismissed the appeal. With Jassy’s latest push to tighten RTO policies, many employees doubt their feedback will lead to any significant changes.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the survey.
