Amazon Warns Employees Who Don’t Go to the Office Enough

Amazon, the global e-commerce giant, has issued cautionary emails to certain US-based office employees regarding their in-person attendance at work, indicating the company’s commitment to enforcing its return-to-office policies.

The move follows growing resistance among employees to the policy, which mandates a minimum of three days of in-office work per week. This development aligns with a broader trend among companies to reduce remote work options.

Screenshots of the email have circulated on social media platforms, revealing that Amazon informed specific employees that they were not meeting the expectation of being present in the office at least three days a week, despite the readiness of their assigned office building.

“We expect you to start coming into the office three or more days a week now,” the email stated.

Amazon initiated the policy in May, and while many employees have complied, sentiments have been mixed. Some Amazon workers expressed their frustration anonymously on Blind, a social media platform where employees discuss their workplaces. The issue divided opinions, with some employees denouncing Amazon’s approach and others supporting the stricter enforcement.

Interestingly, some employees who adhered to the policy claimed to have received the warning email, while others who rarely entered the office reported not receiving it.

Responding to CNN’s query, Amazon clarified the criteria for sending the original email. The follow-up note stated that the email was intended for employees who had entered the office fewer than three days a week for five or more of the past eight weeks, or those who hadn’t entered three days a week for three or more of the past four weeks. Additionally, the employees’ office buildings must have been operational for eight weeks or more.

The follow-up communication acknowledged that some recipients might have received the email in error and encouraged them to contact their managers for clarification.

This development occurs in the context of a walkout by over 1,000 Amazon corporate employees in May, protesting against the rigidness of the office policy. Organizers criticized the policy for being a “one-size-fits-all” mandate.

Tech giants, once at the forefront of remote work policies during the pandemic, have shifted towards in-office work. Amazon’s move echoes similar trends among other tech companies. In June, Google unveiled plans to enforce a three-day-a-week hybrid schedule more strictly. Meta (formerly Facebook) similarly urged employees to adopt a three-day in-person schedule starting in September.

The trend extends beyond the tech sector, as even the federal government pushes for a return to in-person work. However, amid Amazon’s warnings, some employees seem unfazed. One Amazon employee on Blind responded, “Negative, I will keep WFH lmao.” This attitude highlights the ongoing tension between companies and their workforce regarding the future of work arrangements.