In a bold defense of Amazon’s new in-office policy, Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), announced during an all-hands meeting that employees who oppose the company’s mandatory five-day-a-week return to the office are welcome to seek employment elsewhere.
According to a transcript reviewed by Reuters, Garman stated that approximately 90% of the employees he has spoken with support the policy, which is set to take effect in January. He emphasized the need for collaboration and innovation, arguing that these goals cannot be fully realized without in-person interactions.
“If there are people who just don’t work well in that environment and don’t want to, that’s okay; there are other companies around,” Garman said. He added that he did not intend his comments to be harsh but rather as an acknowledgment of the importance of teamwork in driving innovation.
The announcement has sparked backlash among employees who argue that the policy increases commuting time and lacks supporting data for its supposed benefits. Previously, Amazon had enforced a three-day in-office policy, but CEO Andy Jassy indicated that the shift to a five-day requirement is essential for fostering innovation and collaboration.
Some employees who resisted the return-to-office mandate reported being informed that they were “voluntarily resigning” and subsequently locked out of company systems.
As the second-largest private employer in the world, Amazon’s stance on in-office work is notably stricter than that of its tech competitors, such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft, which have adopted more flexible two- to three-day in-office policies.
“I’m actually quite excited about this change,” Garman said, acknowledging that not everyone shares his enthusiasm. He stressed that achieving the company’s objectives is challenging with the current three-day requirement, underscoring the importance of a full-time office presence.
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