Amazon employees send angry letter on return-to-office policy; management stands firm [Video]

Over 500 Amazon employees sent a letter Wednesday to Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman, urging a reversal of a new five-day, in-office mandate and challenging his recent statement that the policy has “broad support” among staff. 

The letter opens, “We were appalled to hear the non-data-driven explanation you gave for Amazon imposing a five-day in-office mandate.”

The return-to-office policy, announced by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in September, has been met with significant opposition from Amazon’s workforce.

“We understand that some of our teammates may have set up their personal lives in such a way that returning to the office consistently five days per week will require some adjustments,” Jassy said in a public message to employees.

Many employees argue remote work has been productive and that commuting adds unnecessary time and expense. Amazon has been enforcing the policy by requiring employees to either report to regional offices, relocate to Seattle or “voluntarily resign” if they cannot comply.