Amazon employees send angry letter over return-to-office policy; management stands firm

More than 500 Amazon employees sent a letter Wednesday to Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman, urging changes to the new five-day, office-based work and challenging his recent statement that the policy has “broad support” among workers.

The letter begins, “We were surprised to hear the data-driven explanation you provided to Amazon establishing a five-day mandate to be in the office.”

The open letter alleges Garman’s comments “misrepresent the realities of working at Amazon” and do not reflect the experiences of many employees.

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The back-to-the-office policy, announced by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy in September, has met with strong opposition from Amazon employees.

“We understand that some colleagues may have made their lives in such a way that returning to the office every five days a week will require some adjustment,” said Jassy in a public message to employees.

Many workers argue that telecommuting is beneficial and that commuting adds unnecessary time and expense. Amazon has been implementing this policy by requiring employees to report to regional offices, relocate to Seattle or “voluntarily leave” if they cannot comply.

“If there are people who don’t work well in that area and don’t want to, that’s fine. There are other companies nearby,” said Garman during the October 17 meeting.

The book includes personal stories from a dozen employees, who cited family commitments, medical needs and long commutes as barriers to adherence. One worker reported a four-hour commute to the nearest office, while another said her partner would have to quit her job if they were to move.

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Many expressed frustration over the impact on their work-life balance, with one employee saying, “I used to be proud of my job and excited about my future here. I don’t feel that anymore.”

Employees counter Garman’s comments lack supporting data and “violate the trust of your employees who don’t have personal experience that shows the benefits of remote work but have seen extensive data that supports that experience.”

They also say that the new mandate equally affects employees with specific needs, such as those with different senses or childcare responsibilities, challenging Amazon’s principle of “Striving to Be the World’s Best Employer.”

Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, speaks during the WSJ Tech Live conference organized by the Wall Street Journal at Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, Calif., Oct. 21, 2024. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Amazon spokeswoman Margaret Callahan shared with FOX Business after the company understands that this may be a change for some employees, which is why the company is sharing this guidance well before it expects employees to work in the office.

Additionally, Callahan stressed that Amazon offers employees “a lot of resources” depending on the employee’s location, including access to senior care and pet sitters.

Amazon can provide employees with subsidized or reimbursable public transportation, free scooters for commuters, paid monthly parking rates and several sustainable options for commuting assistance.

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Amazon workers are expected to return to the office five days a week starting Jan. 2.

Reuters contributed to this report.