An Amazon employee has made the difficult decision to leave the company after being asked to return to the office in the US. The software-development manager, who wishes to remain anonymous, had to give up $200,000 worth of company stocks (approximately Rs 1.6 crore). The employee expressed feeling blindsided by the decision, as it contradicted the company’s initial promise to allow remote work. Despite attempting negotiations and providing estimates for relocation costs, the employee did not receive a satisfactory response from Amazon.
The employee also highlighted the lack of data supporting claims that remote workers are less productive. They found it difficult to accept statements such as “We don’t have the data, we just know it’s true,” which contradicted Amazon’s leadership principles. Ultimately, the employee decided to resign, resulting in the loss of $203,000 in unvested stock. They have since found employment at another company alongside a former Amazon colleague. Although their current role offers a similar salary, it cannot match Amazon’s stock options.
In response to the employee’s story, Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser stated that they could not confirm its accuracy. He emphasized that a single anecdote cannot define a company of Amazon’s size. Glasser reiterated that Amazon had previously communicated its plan for employees to return to the office three or more days per week starting in May. The company acknowledges that relocation requirements vary based on individual circumstances and is providing support to affected employees. Amazon expects its team to comply with these policies and will take appropriate action if necessary.