Amazon is implementing a comprehensive return-to-office policy, requiring employees to work from the office five days a week starting January 2, 2025. This marks a shift back to pre-pandemic work arrangements, as announced in a companywide memo by CEO Andy Jassy on Monday, September 16.
In his memo, which was made publicly available, Jassy emphasized that this move is aimed at fostering a more collaborative and connected work environment. “We want to operate like the world’s largest startup,” Jassy wrote. He noted that having employees in the office full time will enhance collaboration, innovation, and adherence to Amazon’s company culture, which he believes are crucial for delivering the best outcomes for customers and the business.
The decision reflects a broader strategy by Amazon’s senior management team, often referred to internally as the “s-team,” to revert to the operational practices that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020. According to Jassy, the company has observed various benefits from in-office work, including easier learning, more effective brainstorming, and a stronger connection among team members.
Amazon’s previous return-to-office policy, which began in May 2023, required employees to be in the office at least three days a week. Jassy highlighted that the company found this approach to be beneficial in terms of strengthening its culture and improving collaborative efforts. “We’ve observed that it’s easier for our teammates to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture; collaborating, brainstorming, and inventing are simpler and more effective; teaching and learning from one another are more seamless; and, teams tend to be better connected to one another,” he explained.
The new policy will be a full return to pre-pandemic norms, with exceptions only for extenuating circumstances or approved remote work exceptions. Jassy clarified that while not every employee was in the office five days a week before the pandemic, remote work was not a standard expectation, and this will continue to be the case moving forward.
Jassy, who succeeded Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as CEO in July 2021, has a long history with the company, having joined in 1997 and leading Amazon Web Services (AWS) for nearly two decades. Under his leadership, Amazon has continued to expand and evolve, including notable growth in its advertising division and Prime Video service.
In his memo, Jassy also addressed organizational changes aimed at increasing efficiency. He announced a plan to boost the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15% by the end of the first quarter of 2025. “Having fewer managers will remove layers and flatten organizations more than they are today,” he wrote, indicating a push towards a more streamlined management structure.
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Jassy expressed optimism about Amazon’s ongoing business performance, particularly noting the growth in its advertising sector and the expansion of Prime Video. In April, it was reported that Prime Video had surpassed 200 million monthly viewers. For the second quarter of 2024, Amazon’s ad revenue rose 20% to $12.77 billion, although this figure fell short of some analyst expectations.
This return-to-office announcement is expected to have significant implications for Amazon’s workforce and may influence similar policies at other major technology firms as they navigate the post-pandemic work landscape.
