Amazon Asks Corporate Workers to Relocate as Part of Return-to-Office Policy
In a move to enforce its return-to-office policy, Amazon is requesting some corporate workers to relocate to different cities. The policy requires employees to be present in the office for three days a week. While the tech giant has confirmed the relocations, it has not commented on reports suggesting that workers in smaller offices will be required to move to larger cities where the main offices are located.
The exact number of employees who will be asked to relocate has not been disclosed by Amazon. However, the company’s spokesperson, Brad Glasser, stated that “relocation benefits” will be provided to those who are required to move. Additionally, Amazon will consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Glasser emphasized the benefits of working together in person, stating that there is more energy, collaboration, and connections when employees spend at least three days per week in the office. He added that feedback from employees and surrounding businesses has been positive. Glasser also mentioned that Amazon is continuously exploring ways to bring teams together in the same locations and will communicate directly with employees regarding any decisions that may affect them.
This move represents an escalation of Amazon’s efforts to bring employees back to the office. In February, the company introduced a policy requiring workers to be physically present for three days a week, which went into effect in May. The implementation of this policy led to protests by hundreds of corporate workers outside the company’s headquarters in Seattle. Previously, team leaders had the authority to determine their teams’ work arrangements.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy explained that the decision to bring workers back was based on observations made during the pandemic. The senior leadership team studied employee performance and consulted with leaders from other companies. They concluded that employees were more engaged and collaborated more effectively in person.
According to internal messages cited by Business Insider, Amazon employees who refuse to relocate near their team’s main offices are being given the option to find a new job internally or leave the company through a “voluntary resignation.” It is worth noting that Amazon has already eliminated 27,000 jobs in recent months.
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