Amazon to Block Employee Promotions for Those Not Returning to Office
In a recent move, Amazon has announced that it will block employees from receiving promotions if they do not comply with the company’s back-to-office policy. Managers have been instructed to enforce a higher office-to-home ratio for employees who wish to climb the career ladder.
This decision comes after Amazon implemented a policy in February of this year, which required employees to return to the office at least three days a week starting in May. Failure to adhere to this policy will now require approval from a vice-president, and non-compliant employees may be barred from promotions.
In an internal announcement, staff were reminded that managers are responsible for supporting their growth through regular conversations and stretch assignments, as well as completing all necessary inputs for promotions. The announcement stated, “If your role is expected to work from the office 3+ days a week and you are not in compliance, your manager will be made aware and VP approval will be required.”
Since the introduction of the back-to-office mandate, Amazon has faced significant pushback from its employees. In March, nearly 30,000 Amazon staff signed a petition urging the company to drop its office policy. In May, hundreds of employees staged a lunchtime demonstration at the company’s Seattle headquarters to protest the new policy. At that time, an internal Slack channel advocating for remote work had amassed 33,000 members.
During a Q&A session in August, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy emphasized the importance of “disagreeing and committing.” He stated that if employees cannot adhere to this principle, it may not work out for them at Amazon, as the company is committed to returning to the office at least three days a week.
When announcing the updated policy earlier this year, Jassy explained that Amazon made its decision based on observations of what worked during the pandemic and conversations with leaders at other companies.
An Amazon spokesperson reiterated that promotions are a way to support employees’ growth and development, and compliance with company guidelines and policies is expected.
Source: The Independent UK