Amazon has announced a significant shift in its workplace policy, requiring all corporate employees to return to the office five days a week starting in January 2024, Business Insider reports.
This move marks the end of the company’s pandemic-era hybrid model, where staff could work remotely for two days each week. The decision has sparked debate over the future of remote work, with experts predicting it could set a precedent for other companies to follow.
In a memo to staff, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy emphasized that prior to the pandemic, working remotely part-time was not the norm.
“Before the pandemic, it was not a given that folks could work remotely two days a week, and that will also be true moving forward,” Jassy wrote.
He acknowledged that remote work may still be permitted under specific circumstances, such as illness or household emergencies, but made it clear that these would be exceptions rather than the rule.
The new policy will also see the return of assigned desks in Amazon’s offices, including its two major headquarters in Washington state and Arlington, Virginia, which employ about 88,000 people combined.
The decision has raised concerns about its impact on employee morale, engagement, and work-life balance. Gemma Dale, a senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University’s business school, warned that forcing employees back into the office full-time could lead to resistance and increased turnover.
“We have seen that when people are mandated to attend work, they will resist if they can,” Dale told Business Insider.
She suggested that some employees may start looking for other job opportunities, while those who stay could face declining morale and a strained work-life balance.
Dale also noted that savvy employers might see this as an opportunity to attract disillusioned Amazon employees.
“If I were hiring for the same skills, I would now be asking my recruitment team to make proactive contact with potentially disgruntled employees,” she said.
Amanda Jones, a senior lecturer in organizational behavior at King’s College London, believes that Amazon’s move could influence other companies, particularly if the policy proves successful.
“Successful organizations tend to lead the way, and then other organizations tend to emulate those organizations,” Jones said.
Given Amazon’s position as a market leader, the five-day office mandate may set a new standard for workplace policies across various industries.
However, Jones does not believe this shift marks the end of remote work altogether.
“I would be willing to bet that a lot of the people they’re saying need to be working side-by-side probably actually spend a lot of time working online anyway,” she remarked.
Jones highlighted that, given Amazon’s global operations, many employees will still need to collaborate remotely with colleagues based in different locations.
Nahla Khaddage Bou-Diab, chairman and general manager of Oneness Mgmt and CEO of AM Bank, stressed that large companies like Amazon should focus on fostering a workplace culture that naturally draws employees back to the office, rather than mandating their return.
“Force is not going to achieve this sense of belonging in the office,” said Bou-Diab.
He also added that aligning staff with the company’s broader values and purpose would be more effective in encouraging in-office presence.
While some experts caution that this policy shift could lead to unrest among employees, others suggest that if successful, Amazon’s strategy could inspire a broader return to office work across corporate America.
