Amazon Defends Full Return-to-Office Mandate Amid Employee Pushback

New Delhi: Last month, Amazon announced a full return-to-office mandate, asking employees to work from the office five days a week, similar to the pre-COVID-19 era. The decision has sparked frustration among many employees, though the company’s top human resources executive has defended the policy.

Beth Galetti, Amazon ’s Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology, justified the decision during The Information’s Women in Tech, Media, and Finance conference. According to a report by The Information, Galetti stated that the return-to-office mandate is in response to young employees seeking in-office work for mentorship opportunities.

“The move is a return to Amazon ’s pre-pandemic approach, where workers showed up in person but still had flexibility to attend to family and other matters,” Galetti explained. “We’re trying to get back to that,” she added.

Galetti’s comments echo the stance of Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who has also supported the policy. He highlighted that pre-pandemic, not all employees were in the office every day, acknowledging that remote work was still allowed in cases of illness or special circumstances. 

“Before the pandemic, not everybody was in the office five days a week, every week. If you or your child were sick... if you needed a day or two to finish coding... people worked remotely. This was understood, and will be moving forward as well,” Jassy said.

AI-Powered Solution for Employee Feedback

Alongside the new office mandate, Amazon is reportedly exploring innovative ways to adapt to changing work environments. The company is developing a generative AI-powered “culture coach” aimed at providing employees with feedback, Galetti mentioned during the conference.

CEO Jassy’s Memo on Office Policy

In a memo sent to employees, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy outlined the new return-to-office policy, which will take effect from January 2. He emphasized that in-office collaboration facilitates easier brainstorming, and teamwork, and strengthens company culture. However, many employees have raised concerns about commuting difficulties, housing costs, and maintaining a work-life balance.

Critics have termed the policy a “stealth layoff,” suggesting it may lead to a wave of resignations as employees look for companies offering more flexible work arrangements.