The week of Sept. 15, 2024, saw a number of top stories on GeekWire. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that the company expects employees to return to working in the office in a similar manner to before the global pandemic and the rise of remote work. Many Seattle organizations and businesses have been lobbying for Amazon employees to return to five days a week of in-person work, eagerly awaiting January for this change to take effect. OceanGate’s Titan submersible, which experienced a catastrophic implosion in the North Atlantic last year, revealed the crew’s last words during public hearings. Video views from the search for the Titan submersible showed mangled components from the craft, highlighting the dramatic implosion that led to the loss of the crew.
Jassy emphasized the advantages of working in-person, such as the ability to learn, collaborate, brainstorm, and connect with colleagues more effectively in his memo to corporate workers. Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a “50 for 50” program, marking the milestone with special initiatives. Amazon found itself in a position where it had to return to working in the office despite the benefits of remote work, highlighting the challenges and changes faced by companies due to the global pandemic. Smartsheet’s chief operating officer, Stephen Branstetter, resigned in a new regulatory filing, leading to changes within the company’s leadership.
Remote work, while divisive, has had a positive impact on Seattle’s traffic problem, demonstrating the potential benefits of a shift towards virtual work environments. Vijaye Raji, a former big-tech executive now running a startup, understands Jassy’s decision to have employees return to the office five days a week as a general rule, reflecting the varying perspectives on remote work within the technology industry.Overall, the latest technology and startup news from GeekWire for the week of Sept. 15, 2024, highlighted developments in companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Smartsheet, as well as the ongoing discussions about the impact of remote work on businesses and traffic in Seattle.
