Amazon’s new 5-day in-office policy has caused quite a stir among employees, with many expressing their dissatisfaction with the change. Despite the backlash, one of the company’s top executives, Matt Garman, has come forward to defend the policy, stating that the majority of employees (nine out of 10) actually support it.
Garman suggested that those who are not on board with the new mandate may want to consider seeking employment elsewhere. He emphasized the importance of in-person collaboration for innovation and product development, highlighting the challenges of remote work in fostering a culture of creativity and teamwork.
While some employees have threatened to engage in “soft quitting” in response to the new policy, Amazon seems determined to enforce the 5-day in-office requirement. CEO Andy Jassy believes that this change is essential for maintaining a collaborative and connected work environment that fosters innovation.
Compared to its tech peers like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, Amazon has taken a more rigid approach to in-office work. While other companies have implemented more flexible 2-3 day in-office policies, Amazon is sticking to its 5-day requirement.
Garman expressed his excitement about the change, acknowledging that not everyone shares his enthusiasm. He believes that the previous 3-day in-office policy was not conducive to achieving the company’s goals and upholding its leadership principles. According to Garman, remote work makes it challenging to embody Amazon’s core values and principles on a day-to-day basis.
The company now faces a critical decision on how to address employee resistance to the new policy. Will Amazon maintain its hardline stance, risking further discontent among employees, or will it reconsider its approach and explore more flexible work arrangements? The outcome of this decision could have significant implications for Amazon’s future and the ongoing debate about the future of work in the post-pandemic era.
