Amazon CEO Andy Jassy speaks at the New York Times DealBook Summit in the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 30, 2022 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago | Michael M. SantiagoGetty Images
Amazon Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy dismissed speculation that the company’s five-day mandate was an effort to further reduce headcount or appease city officials.
“A lot of people I’ve met believe that the reason we’re doing this is because of backdoor layoffs or that we have some kind of agreement with one or more cities and that’s why we’re getting people back together more often,” according to CNBC. “I can tell you that neither statement is true,” Jassy said during a plenary session Tuesday. “
Amazon Announce New tasks for September. The company’s previous Return to work attitude Business employees are required to be in the office at least three days a week. Employees have until January 2 to comply with the new policy.
The order prompted a backlash from some Amazon employees, who said working from home or in a hybrid work environment was just as productive as being in the office. Others said the mandate was consistent with Jassy’s ongoing cost-cutting efforts, suggesting it was a means of forcing attrition. Amazon has laid off more than 27,000 employees since the beginning of 2022.
Amazon did not respond to a request for comment. Jassy’s comments were earlier reported Reuters.
“This is not a cost play for us,” Jassy said at the meeting, which coincided with Election Day. “It’s about our culture and strengthening our culture.”
Announcing the mission, Jassy said returning to the office full-time will allow Amazon to “better invent, collaborate, and connect enough with each other and our culture to provide the absolute best for our customers” in the business. “
Amazon cloud chief Matt Garman also defended the decision last month, saying employees who disagreed with the company’s new policies could leave. CNBC previously reported. Garman also said he’s been discussing the mandate with employees and “nine out of 10 people are actually very excited about the change.”
Garman’s comments further angered Amazon employees.
About 500 employees at Amazon’s cloud computing business, Amazon Web Services, sent Garman a letter last week criticizing Garman’s comments and questioning the benefits of the five-day term, according to a copy of the letter seen by CNBC.
“We urge you to reconsider your comments and position on the proposed five-day tenure authorization,” the letter said. “Remote and flexible work is a leading opportunity, not a threat, for Amazon. We want to provide a platform for companies to recognize that And seize this moment to challenge our companies and leaders to reinvent the way we work.”
The letter included anecdotes from AWS employees who detailed how the five-day in-office assignment would impact their “lives and work.” One employee described how they were denied accommodations for people with disabilities and told to return to the office, while another said they were recently told to use paid time off to care for a sick family member instead of being allowed to stay home Work. Another employee said the RTO directive requires them to work from an office “200 miles away from my home”.
At least 37,000 employees have joined internal Slack channels Created last year Advocating for remote work and expressing dissatisfaction with return-to-work mandates, CNBC previously reported. staff previously postponed During the 3-day term, some people go on strike Amazon’s Seattle headquarters expressed dissatisfaction.
Jassy acknowledged Tuesday that the five-day term will be an adjustment for staff.
“I understand that for a lot of people, we’re going to be working together to adjust,” he said.
watch: AWS CEO says employees unhappy with 5-day office deadline can leave
