Amazon employees numbering 500 have sent a letter to the CEO of its Amazon Web Services division, urging him to reconsider the company’s new five-day return-to-office mandate.
The letter, sent on Wednesday, expresses discontent with AWS CEO Matt Garman’s claim that there is broad support for the policy, stating that employees who oppose it should leave the company.
“We were appalled to hear the non-data-driven explanation you gave for Amazon imposing a five-day in-office mandate,” the letter opens. This response comes after Garman stated at an all-hands meeting on October 17 that nine out of ten employees he had spoken with backed the new policy, which is set to begin early next year.
However, the letter argues that Garman’s comments do not reflect the views of many workers and misrepresent their experiences at Amazon. It criticizes the return-to-office rule as inconsistent with the realities of effective remote work.
In response, an Amazon spokesperson highlighted that the company provides benefits such as commuter support, elder care, and subsidized parking to facilitate in-office work.
Garman has expressed enthusiasm for the policy, claiming that collaboration is hampered under the current three-day-per-week schedule.
The return-to-office mandate, announced in September by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, has sparked significant controversy within the company. Many employees argue that the policy is wasteful, adding unnecessary commuting time and costs when remote work has proven effective.
Some have even indicated they may leave the company due to the new requirements. Reports suggest that Amazon has enforced the policy by requiring employees to relocate to regional offices, move to Seattle, or “voluntarily resign.”
The letter also addresses concerns that the five-day mandate disproportionately affects workers in protected classes, such as those with neurodiversity or childcare responsibilities, stating it undermines Amazon’s commitment to being “Earth’s Best Employer.”
Included with the letter were anonymous accounts from a dozen employees detailing their struggles with the new policy, citing issues like long commutes, family obligations, and medical needs. One employee noted that their nearest office is four hours away, while another expressed concern that their spouse would need to quit their job to facilitate a potential relocation.
“I used to be proud of my work and excited about my future here,” one employee remarked. “I don’t feel that anymore.”
The letter referenced a 2020 blog post by Garman, in which he noted that AWS had functioned effectively during the pandemic while most employees worked remotely. Compared to its tech counterparts, Amazon has adopted a stricter stance on return-to-office mandates, insisting that the policy fosters innovation and collaboration. Garman has suggested that under the previous three-day policy, “we didn’t really accomplish anything.”
