Amazon tells staff to get back to office five days a week

Amazon has announced it will end its hybrid work policy and require staff to return to the office five days a week starting in January. CEO Andy Jassy informed employees of the decision in a memo, stating that working in the office full-time will better support collaboration, innovation, and connectivity among staff. Jassy, who has expressed skepticism about remote work, emphasized that the change would help maintain Amazon’s corporate culture, which he believes has been diluted by flexible work arrangements.

Previously, Amazon allowed employees to work from home two days a week. The company’s push to bring corporate staff back to the office has faced resistance, with some employees staging protests at the Seattle headquarters last year after the company began limiting remote work options introduced during the pandemic. Amazon later fired one of the protest organizers, leading to claims of retaliation and a labor dispute that is currently under review by officials.

In his memo, Jassy reiterated his concerns about the impact of flexible work on Amazon’s startup-like intensity. He encouraged staff to submit complaints about unnecessary bureaucratic rules through a newly created “bureaucracy mailbox” and announced that the company is asking managers to oversee larger teams, which may lead to job cuts.

Amazon also revealed that it will end hot-desking in the U.S., though it will continue the practice in most of Europe. While some flexibility will remain for exceptional situations, such as caring for a sick child, the company expects employees to be in the office under normal circumstances.

Amazon’s stance contrasts with the UK’s approach, where the government plans to make flexible working a default right from day one under a new employment rights bill. While some businesses continue to embrace remote and hybrid work, Amazon’s decision reflects a broader trend among companies like JP Morgan, UPS, and Dell, which have also recalled staff to full-time office attendance. Despite these moves, experts suggest that the overall balance between remote and in-office work has remained stable, with many companies still supporting flexible work arrangements.