Amazon Ends Hybrid Work Policy, Mandates Office Return Five Days a Week

Amazon has announced that it will end its hybrid work policy, requiring staff to return to the office five days a week starting in January. In a memo to employees, CEO Andy Jassy stated, “We’ve decided that we’re going to return to being in the office the way we were before the onset of Covid,” emphasizing that this move would help staff “invent, collaborate, and be connected enough to each other.”

While Mr. Jassy has been known for his skepticism toward remote work, Amazon previously allowed employees to work from home two days a week. This recent change has sparked tensions within the company, which employs over 1.5 million people globally. Last year, employees at the Seattle headquarters staged a protest against tightening remote work policies, which led to the dismissal of the protest organizer, raising concerns about retaliation.

In his message, Mr. Jassy expressed concern that Amazon’s corporate culture was being diluted by flexible work arrangements, potentially adding too many bureaucratic layers. He introduced a “bureaucracy mailbox” for complaints and requested managers reorganize their teams, which could result in job cuts. The company will end hot-desking in the US but will continue this practice in most European offices.

While Amazon will allow remote work in special circumstances, such as caring for a sick child or handling house emergencies, Mr. Jassy stressed that in-office attendance is expected outside of such situations.

Amazon’s approach contrasts with the UK government’s push for flexible working, which aims to make it a default right from day one as part of an upcoming employment rights bill. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds emphasized that flexible working arrangements can benefit businesses by allowing them to recruit from a wider talent pool.

Remote work surged during the pandemic, with many companies recalling staff in 2022, though the return to offices has remained incomplete.