An overwhelming majority of Amazon employees are dissatisfied with the company’s mandate to return to the office five days per week, according to a new survey by Blind. The survey, which included 2,585 verified corporate employees at Amazon, revealed that 91% of employees are unhappy with the new policy, with 73% considering looking for another job and 32% already knowing someone who has quit because of it. The change was announced by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in a companywide memo on September 16, stating that the company would be returning to pre-COVID office policies in January.
The loss of work-life flexibility that was made possible by remote and hybrid work during the pandemic is a primary concern for many Amazon employees. Some employees and others near the company’s headquarters campus in Seattle expressed displeasure over the returning to the office, while small businesses that rely on employee foot traffic see it as a positive change. Many individuals shared their frustration and concerns anonymously on Blind, with one employee referencing performance improvement plans and another mentioning the challenges of relocating due to the new policy.
Some employees and commenters on Blind believe that Amazon’s return-to-office policy will lead to a thinning of the corporate and tech ranks without needing to do mass layoffs. They also expressed concerns that Amazon’s decision will set a precedent for other companies to follow suit, potentially marking the end of widespread remote work opportunities. Internal discussions on platforms like Blind and a Slack channel within Amazon have been active with employees sharing their experiences and concerns about returning to the office.
Amazon employs approximately 50,000 corporate and tech workers in Seattle, with another 12,000 in neighboring communities like Bellevue, Washington. Globally, the company had 1.5 million employees as of June 2024, including a majority working in Amazon’s fulfillment network. Despite the discontent among corporate employees, Jassy reiterated his belief in the benefits of in-person work for collaborating, brainstorming, teaching, learning, and inventing. He stated that the past 15 months of partial in-office work had reaffirmed the value of physical presence for certain aspects of work.
The Blind survey took place from September 17-19 and highlighted the dissatisfaction and concerns among Amazon employees regarding the return-to-office policy. While the survey method may have skewed responses towards those who are unhappy with the change, the results suggest that a significant portion of the workforce is considering leaving or has seen colleagues leave due to the new policy. As companies navigate the transition back to in-person work, the experiences and feedback of employees are crucial in shaping the future of work environments and policies.
