Amazon has implemented a strict return-to-office mandate, requiring its corporate employees to work five days a week starting January 2025, Financial Times reports.
This decision, announced by CEO Andy Jassy, comes as part of a broader effort to reinforce the company’s “Day 1” culture and contrasts sharply with the more flexible approaches adopted by many of its tech industry peers.
Since last May, Jassy has mandated that employees work in the office at least three days a week. During a town hall meeting in August, he addressed employee dissent directly.
“If you can’t disagree and commit… it’s probably not going to work out for you,” he stated.
His comments followed a walkout by hundreds of employees at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters, expressing frustration over the return-to-office policies.
Amazon’s latest decision affects more than 300,000 corporate employees globally and marks one of the most rigid office mandates in the tech sector. Jassy emphasized the importance of in-person collaboration.
“The advantages of being together in the office are significant,” he stated.
In contrast, many other major tech companies, such as Apple, Alphabet, and Meta, have adopted hybrid work models, allowing for varying degrees of remote work. Research indicates that only 3% of tech companies with over 25,000 employees have returned to a five-day office schedule, with most opting for structured hybrid or fully flexible arrangements.
Jassy’s stance aligns him with other prominent business leaders advocating for a full return to the office, including Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase and Elon Musk of Tesla. However, Jassy’s approach appears less severe than Musk’s, who previously stated that Tesla employees not working a minimum of 40 hours in the office could “pretend to work somewhere else.”
Despite the enforcement of stricter policies, some Amazon employees have taken to social media to express their discontent, with one LinkedIn user describing the five-day mandate as “unfortunate.” Analysts warn that such hardline policies may alienate top talent, especially as flexibility in work arrangements has become a priority for many job seekers.
While Amazon’s approach may reflect an effort to curb bureaucracy and revitalize its corporate culture, experts caution that it could lead to a loss of high-performing employees who seek more flexible working conditions.
