Amazon Tells Workers they Must Come to the Office 5 Days a Week

Amazon has announced that its corporate employees will be required to return to the office five days a week, beginning January 2, 2025, marking a significant shift from its current hybrid work policy. The company’s existing arrangement, introduced during the pandemic, allows employees to work in the office only three days per week.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy revealed the new policy in a memo on Monday, emphasizing the importance of in-person collaboration. Jassy stated that being physically present in the office is essential for fostering innovation, maintaining company culture, and delivering optimal results for both customers and the business.

“We continue to believe that the advantages of being together in the office are significant,” Jassy wrote, highlighting the benefits of teamwork, collaboration, and skill-building that are enhanced by working on-site.

Amazon’s decision comes after months of internal debate. In a previous memo in 2023, Jassy had already signaled his support for increased office presence, citing it as crucial for maintaining Amazon’s culture. The new policy will require additional leadership approval for employees seeking exceptions to work remotely.

The move to bring employees back full-time has not been without pushback. In May 2023, some corporate workers staged a walkout at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters, expressing discontent over several issues, including the then-mandated three-day office policy. The walkout followed significant layoffs, with Amazon cutting approximately 27,000 jobs in multiple rounds of reductions.

While other industries, particularly finance, have encouraged full-time office returns, most companies have scaled back on such demands. According to a CEO survey by The Conference Board, only 4% of US CEOs and 4% of CEOs globally prioritized full-time office work at the start of 2024. Amazon’s move represents one of the more stringent approaches to office attendance among major companies.