Amazon is set to reinstate a full in-office work week for its corporate employees starting January 2, 2025, according to a recent memo from CEO Andy Jassy. This decision marks a significant shift from the company’s current policy, which requires employees to be in the office three days a week.
New Policy Details
In a memo dated September 16, 2024, Jassy outlined the new expectations for Amazon’s corporate staff. The updated policy will require employees to work from the office five days a week. This change represents a return to pre-pandemic norms, emphasizing the company’s belief in the benefits of in-person collaboration and teamwork.
“When we look back over the last five years, we continue to believe that the advantages of being together in the office are significant,” Jassy’s memo stated. He further elaborated that being in the office facilitates easier learning, strengthens company culture, and enhances collaboration. “We’ve observed that it’s easier for our teammates to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture; collaborating, brainstorming, and inventing are simpler and more effective; teaching and learning from one another are more seamless; and, teams tend to be better connected to one another,” Jassy added.
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Historical Context and Company Trends
Prior to this change, Amazon’s policy allowed employees to work remotely for two days a week. The company’s shift to a five-day office requirement comes as part of a broader trend among tech and non-tech companies re-evaluating their remote work policies. According to The Washington Post, Amazon is the first major tech firm to mandate a full week in the office since the pandemic began.
This shift mirrors actions by other companies that are rolling back flexible work arrangements. Tech giants like SAP, AT&T, and Dell have also tightened their remote work policies, moving away from the more relaxed approaches adopted during the pandemic. Even Zoom, a company synonymous with remote work, has implemented part-time in-office requirements for its employees.
Industry-Wide Reactions and Comparisons
Amazon’s move aligns with a growing trend among companies that are now reversing or revising their remote work policies. Disney, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of America are among other large organizations that have also called employees back to the office, signaling a potential shift back to pre-pandemic work norms.
Exceptions and Organizational Changes
Jassy’s memo specifies that while the new policy will generally require employees to be in the office, exceptions will be made for extenuating circumstances such as a sick child, emergencies, or necessary isolation. Employees will need explicit approval from their supervisors to work from home under these conditions.
Additionally, Jassy announced plans to streamline Amazon’s organizational structure. The company aims to increase the ratio of employees to managers, which is intended to reduce bureaucracy and enhance team efficiency.
