Amazon is ending its hybrid work policy, requiring employees to return to the office five days a week starting in January.
CEO Andy Jassy announced the decision in a memo, saying it will improve collaboration, innovation, and connection among staff. Previously, Amazon allowed corporate employees to work from home two days a week.
Jassy, known for his skepticism of remote work, expressed concerns that Amazon’s culture was weakening under flexible arrangements.
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He also introduced a “bureaucracy mailbox” for staff to report unnecessary rules and said the company would streamline management, potentially leading to job cuts.
The move has sparked tension within the company. Last year, employees at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters protested against tightened remote work policies, leading to a labor dispute after the protest organizer was fired.
Amazon will also end its hot-desking policy in the U.S. but will keep it in most of Europe.
While some exceptions for remote work will be allowed in emergencies, Jassy made it clear that employees are expected in the office unless exempted.
This contrasts with the UK government’s plan to make flexible working a default right for employees from their first day, highlighting differing approaches to post-pandemic work policies.
Although some companies like UPS and Dell are also requiring full-time office returns, experts like Stanford’s Nicholas Bloom say office attendance has remained stable overall, with some firms quietly expanding remote options.
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