Amazon Requests Corporate Workers to Relocate as Part of Return-to-Office Policy
Amazon is implementing a return-to-office policy that requires corporate workers to be present in the office three days a week. As part of this policy, the tech giant is asking some employees to relocate to other cities. While Amazon has confirmed the relocations, they have not commented on reports suggesting that workers in smaller offices will be required to move to larger offices in bigger cities.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees who will be affected by the relocations. However, Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser stated that the company will provide relocation benefits to those asked to move and will consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
Glasser emphasized the positive aspects of working together in person, stating that there is increased energy, collaboration, and connections among employees and surrounding businesses since the implementation of the three-day office policy. He added that Amazon is continuously exploring ways to bring teams together in the same locations and will directly communicate with employees regarding any decisions that may impact them.
This move represents an escalation of Amazon’s efforts to bring employees back to the office. In February, the company introduced the three-day office policy, which came into effect in May. The policy sparked protests by hundreds of corporate workers outside Amazon’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, ultimately concluding that in-person engagement and collaboration were more effective.
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 voluntary resignation. It is worth noting that Amazon has already eliminated 27,000 jobs in recent months.
Original Source: The Associated Press (Copyright 2023)