As Amazon forges ahead with its return-to-office policy, requiring workers to be present at the office for three days a week, the tech giant is also asking some corporate employees to relocate to different cities. The move is part of Amazon’s efforts to centralize its workforce in main offices located in larger cities, aiming to foster increased collaboration and connectivity among teams.
While the exact number of employees affected by these relocations remains undisclosed, Amazon has confirmed that some workers in smaller offices are being asked to move to larger city-based offices. Brad Glasser, an Amazon spokesperson, stated that the company will offer “relocation benefits” to employees who are requested to relocate and will carefully consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
According to Glasser, the three-day office week has proven to be highly beneficial, fostering enhanced energy, collaboration, and connections among teams. The company believes this approach has resulted in heightened productivity and has received positive feedback from employees and businesses surrounding its offices.
The move to mandate office presence marks a significant shift from Amazon’s previous approach, where team leaders had autonomy in determining their teams’ work arrangements. The decision to bring workers back to the office was made following a thorough observation of work dynamics during the pandemic. Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, cited increased employee engagement and improved collaboration as key factors behind the decision to prioritize in-person work.
Reports from Business Insider indicate that employees who refuse to relocate to main offices near their teams are being presented with the choice of finding a new internal role or opting for a “voluntary resignation.” This development comes in the wake of the company’s recent job cuts, affecting 27,000 positions.
As Amazon continues to navigate its return-to-office policy, it remains focused on streamlining its workforce and enhancing teamwork dynamics to maintain its position as a global tech leader.
