Remember the days of working from anywhere? They’re officially over at Amazon.
The tech giant wants its corporate and tech employees back in their assigned offices three days a week — no matter how far they roamed during the pandemic.
That’s one of the key details from an Amazon FAQ addressing employee questions about its new hybrid work policy, which starts May 1. The internal document, obtained by GeekWire, covers everything from indoor air quality systems and office redesigns to support for nursing parents and policies for bringing dogs to work.
The wide range of topics illustrates the challenges that Amazon and others face as they bring workers back to the office, including some who were hired during the pandemic and have never met their colleagues in person.
But the core questions focus on where and when employees need to be back.
“We expect all employees to return to their assigned office at least three days a week when their building is ready,” it reads. Those unable to comply should talk with their managers “to explore options such as allowing extra time until you can relocate back to your assigned area or transferring to another team near your location.”
Are there exceptions? Two questions address that issue.
Are there exceptions to returning to the office three days a week? If I’m unable or unwilling to return to the office, how do I request an exception to work remotely?
Yes. As there were before the pandemic, there will be exceptions for certain roles and functions that require remote status. For example, some roles in sales or customer support have historically had remote-working status, and that will stay the same moving forward. If your function or role does not currently allow for remote-work status, you can request an exception to work remotely by starting with your manager to discuss your situation. …
I have an exception from my leadership to work remotely (either from before or during the pandemic), can I still work remotely as most employees return to the office at least three days a week?
If you received an exception to permanently work remotely that was approved by your VP for your current role, you may continue to work remotely. Please keep in mind that leaders are always looking at how they want to distribute and organize teams, and if they need to change those arrangements, they will work directly with their employees to identify relocation or team transfer options. If you are working remotely but did not receive approval through the remote-work exception policy, you will need to discuss your situation with your manager and determine if you need to apply for a remote-work exception.
Both of those answers point to an internal page to apply for a remote work exception, and note that “S-team member approval will be required for remote-work status,” referring to Amazon’s 28-person senior leadership team.
Another big question: Can employees choose their three days in the office?
“In most cases, and in order to optimize in-person collaboration across teams, teams will want to align their in-person working days together,” the FAQ says. “Managers will work with their teams to identify common days in the office as appropriate.”
A separate memo to Amazon Worldwide Stores employees shows how this will work in one division. Most teams “will work in the office on Wednesdays as core days for cross-functional meetings,” it reads, in part, explaining that the remaining days will be “structured around team collaboration and office synergies.”
For some employees, it adds, “Fridays will be an ‘in field’ day, where field/store corporate teams can be in sites or stores, and these will count as office days.”
Amazon’s companywide FAQ also delves into the nitty-gritty of office designs and desk setups, saying that workstations will have single or dual monitors, keyboard, mouse and a universal docking station.
“Just as we do when we invent for customers, the teams that are working together to evolve our office designs will listen to feedback and iterate to support our diverse organizations globally,” the company’s FAQ says. “There will undoubtedly be wrinkles along the way, and your patience is appreciated.”
Amazon’s back-to-office reversal
The detailed FAQ, spanning 28 questions and answers, demonstrates the complexities of implementing a return-to-office policy covering hundreds of thousands of employees.
In that way, it’s a change in direction for the Seattle-based tech giant, which said in October 2021 that it was leaving back-to-office decisions up to individual team leaders. Amazon then altered course when it announced the return-to-office plans in February of this year.
“We’re going to be in a stage of experimenting, learning, and adjusting for a while as we emerge from this pandemic,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees in October 2021.
Jassy, who succeeded founder Jeff Bezos in the role in July 2021, almost two years ago, has emerged as one of corporate America’s biggest advocates for in-person collaboration and connection.
“Invention is often messy,” Jassy wrote in his April 13 annual letter to shareholders. “It wanders and meanders and marinates. Serendipitous interactions help it, and there are more of those in-person than virtually.”
Coupled with cutbacks across the tech industry, including 27,000 layoffs at Amazon, the move to bring workers back to the office indicates a change in the balance of power back toward employers and away from employees.
GeekWire spoke with a number of Amazon employees who aren’t happy with the new policy. The employees, who requested anonymity to speak freely without jeopardizing their jobs, cited lower productivity and time wasted commuting into downtown Seattle.
Some said they worry about personal safety. In Amazon’s FAQ, the company said its corporate security team “secures your work environment with security guards, access systems (badging), cameras, and a range of technology and infrastructure — all to keep you safe.”
News site Insider reported in February about an internal Slack channel and petition by employees advocating for remote work, with many expressing frustration, confusion, and anger.
One employee who spoke with GeekWire criticized Amazon’s communication with its workforce, saying the company wasn’t being transparent about its real reasons for the return-to-office-policy and recent layoffs.
Some employees believe Amazon leaders are using the return-to-office plan as another way to trim headcount, since people may quit instead of coming back to the office.
Amazon’s share price is also a factor in employee compensation and sentiment. Its stock is down more than 25% over the past year, although shares have risen 20% since the company’s initial layoff announcement in January. Insider reported on another internal memo signaling plans to reduce employee stock awards in 2025.
A return-to-office trend?
Amazon is one of several companies establishing back-to-office mandates, creating a divide between those fully embracing remote work and others calling on workers to return to in-person collaboration.
Redfin, the tech-focused Seattle-based real estate brokerage, said this week it was changing course on its own policy and will now require workers in the office two days a week. Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman said he initially embraced remote work but changed his mind.
“It has made me happier,” Kelman said of coming into the office. “It has made it easier to talk casually about a quick question, or more intensely about something thorny.”
Along the same lines, one Amazon employee told GeekWire that more people have been coming to the office recently to prepare for the new policy, and that many people were excited to see co-workers.
The new policies are also welcome news to Seattle civic leaders who have been urging tech companies to bring their workers back to the downtown area, in a bid to boost economic activity. The trend is also a boon for restaurants, shops, and other retailers that rely on worker foot traffic for a majority of their business.
Ultimately, Amazon is appealing to its employees for flexibility and patience.
“This transition will be easier for some, and more difficult for others, and I recognize that many of you will be working from an Amazon office regularly for the first time,” Amazon Web Services exec Matt Garman told employees in a memo this month.
Garman added, “I also understand every individual circumstance is different, and working together will be important as we adjust and get settled over the next few months. I believe this is the right decision for our customers, and that this shift will strengthen our culture and will ultimately benefit us all.”
