More than 500 “appalled” Amazon employees petition to reverse RTO policy

Over 500 Amazon employees submitted a letter to the CEO of its web services unit this week, asking Matt Garman to rethink his previous statements and position on the company’s proposed back-to-the-office policy.

“As AWS and Amazon employees who work tirelessly every day to obsess and innovate on behalf of our customers, we were horrified to hear the non-data-based explanation you gave for Amazon imposing a 5-day term in the office at the AWS Global Meeting on October 17,” staff letter, obtained by Business Insiderstart.

“By rigidly mandating a 5-day office culture and telling employees who can’t or won’t contribute to the company’s mission in this specific way that ‘there are other companies around,’ you silence critical perspectives and damage the culture and the future our. doing so,” the note continued.

Last month, Garman said in a meeting with all hands that most workers he spoke with support the online retailer’s mandate that employees be on site five days a week. He also suggested that those who find the office environment unsuitable or unattractive are free to seek employment elsewhere.

Garman argued that the existing three-day hybrid work model, which requires employees to be in the office part-time, has not been successful. He remarked, “I didn’t accomplish much; we haven’t been able to collaborate and learn from each other,” because employees often come to the office on different days.

The letter, signed by 523 staff (with 172 including their names), said his remarks were “inconsistent with the experiences of many staff”.

Amazon unveiled a Thursday 11% increase in its revenue for the third quarter, driven by robust growth in its AWS cloud computing division. AWS revenue rose 19% to $27.5 billion, a significant jump from 12% growth in the same quarter last year.

In September, CEO Andy Jassy announced that Amazon employees would return to the office five days a week starting January 2, 2025.

“As we look back over the past five years, we continue to believe that the benefits of being in the office together are significant,” Jassy wrote in a post on the company blog. “We have noticed that it is easier for our colleagues to learn, model, practice and reinforce our culture; collaboration, brainstorming and invention are easier and more efficient; teaching and learning from each other are more fluid; and, teams tend to be better connected to each other,” the executive added.

Jassy said his experiences over the past 15 months working in the office have reinforced his belief in the advantages of traditional in-person work.

The new mandate sparked immediate opposition among his employees. Many workers at the tech giant are looking for new job opportunities through “applying anger” at other workplaces in response to the policy update, wealth reported.

The signatories of the letter argue that the new mandate unfairly affects several groups of employees. These include working parents, especially those with young children, as well as carers. Additionally, they point out that the new policy poses challenges for employees with neurodiverse disabilities and those with disabilities or disorders. Visa workers are particularly vulnerable because they must either comply or risk having to leave their home if they give up their job.

In an emailed statement, Amazon spokeswoman Margaret Callahan said: “We understand this may be a transition for some employees, which is why we’re sharing this guidance now, well in advance of what we expect to be employees to work from the office as they did before. the pandemic. We also offer employees a number of resources based on their location, including access to senior care and pet sitter options, as well as free subscriptions to online referral services where they can find trusted caregivers.”

According to Callahan, the company offers a wide range of commuter benefits and services designed to give employees flexibility in traveling to the office. These benefits differ by location and include options such as funded or reimbursed public transit in major metropolitan areas, free commuter shuttles, a flexible monthly rideshare subsidy, carpooling and cycling expenses. Additionally, employees who bike to work can access on-site bike racks and shower facilities, as well as subsidized parking rates at Amazon facilities.