Employees at Amazon Singapore have expressed dissatisfaction following the tech firm’s announcement on Sep. 16 that it would revert to a full work-from-office model. One staff member described the decision as “quite a bummer,” while another noted it would be “very, very disruptive” due to the short notice, according to CNA. The new policy is set to take effect on Jan. 2, 2025. Many employees, who joined during the pandemic and are accustomed to the hybrid work model, will need to adjust to this significant change. One employee remarked, “Obviously, the change would disturb my lifestyle, but I’ll just take it and handle it along the way,” acknowledging that remote work is a “privilege.” She added that if the new policy becomes too burdensome, she would consider finding another job that offers more flexibility.
Background
Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, announced the shift back to a pre-pandemic work model in a message to employees on Sep. 16. He emphasised the benefits of in-office work, stating, “When we look back over the last five years, we continue to believe that the advantages of being together in the office are significant.” Jassy also mentioned that the last 15 months of a three-day work-from-office hybrid model had “strengthened our conviction about the benefits.” He observed that teams tend to be better connected when working in the same office. To facilitate a smooth transition, the new policy will commence on Jan. 2, 2024.
Pushback and walkouts
The announcement did not come as a complete surprise. On May 1, 2023, Amazon ended its pandemic-era remote work arrangements, requiring employees to return to the office at least three days a week. In a memo to employees on Feb. 17, 2023, Jassy wrote, “There is something about being face-to-face with somebody, looking them in the eye, and seeing they’re fully immersed in whatever you’re discussing that bonds people together.” In response, approximately 3,000 Amazon employees worldwide staged a walkout, citing a “lack of trust in company leadership’s decision making,” according to CNBC. Eliza Pan, co-founder of the Amazon Employees for Climate Justice group, which co-organised the walkout, criticised the mandate as a “rigid, one-size-fits-all return-to-office mandate.” She added that employees “still want a say in important decisions that affect all of our lives.” Additionally, nearly 30,000 Amazon employees signed a petition opposing the mandate, which was later formally rejected by the company’s top human resource executive.
For or against remote work?
Amazon’s decision represents one of the strictest return-to-office policies among major tech firms, as reported by the Financial Times. Only 3 per cent of tech companies with more than 25,000 employees have returned to a five-day work-week in the office, according to an analysis of 2,670 companies by software firm Flex Index. Among Big Tech firms, Apple, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft have so far opted to maintain some variation of a hybrid working pattern, although most are gradually increasing in-office days. Another study by Flex Index showed that larger firms had increased their adoption of structured hybrid models, while the percentage of firms opting for a full-time in-office policy saw a slight decline. At the time of the report, 15 per cent were on “fully flexible” models, 67 per cent were on a “structured hybrid” model, and 18 per cent operated on a “full-time in office” model. FlexOS founder Daan Van Rossum suggested that Amazon’s mandate might be part of a “negotiation game,” expecting that not everyone will comply. “I expect a loosening of the policy as this public display of ‘office nostalgia’ versus the expected reality of offices — that they will still be half-empty even after the mandate goes into effect — will be visible to everyone,” he added.
Future implications
Amazon’s new policy comes as more companies are pulling back on remote work and enforcing return-to-office mandates. The move marks a significant shift from the current pandemic-era hybrid policy, which required employees to be in the office just three days a week. Jassy mentioned that the new policy would be similar to the pre-pandemic era, with some exceptions for emergencies or specific needs. As the first of the Big Tech companies to require a full week in the office post-pandemic, Amazon’s decision could set a precedent for other firms contemplating similar moves. The long-term impact on employee satisfaction and retention remains to be seen, especially as the workforce continues to value flexibility in their work arrangements.
