The employees have called for a reversal of this decision, challenging Garman's claim that the policy has widespread support and suggesting that those who oppose it should consider leaving AWS.
"We were appalled to hear the non-data-driven explanation you gave for Amazon imposing a five-day in-office mandate," the letter begins, as reported by The New York Post. This statement was in response to Garman's assertion during an all-hands meeting on October 17 that nine out of ten workers he had spoken to were in favor of the return-to-office policy, which is set to be implemented early next year.
The employees' letter, reviewed by Reuters, argues that Garman's comments are "inconsistent with the experiences of many employees" and are "misrepresenting the realities of working at Amazon." They believe that the CEO's stance lacks any independent data and "breaks the trust of your employees who have not only personal experience that shows the benefits of remote work, but have seen the extensive data which supports that experience."
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The letter goes on to highlight the potential negative impact of the five-day in-office mandate on certain groups of workers, such as those with neurodiversity or childcare responsibilities. The employees argue that this policy "does not uphold Amazon’s espoused 'Strive to be Earth’s Best Employer' leadership principle."
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The letter also includes anonymous accounts from a dozen Amazon workers who believe that complying with the five-day in-office policy would be challenging or even impossible due to various reasons, including family obligations, commuting times, or medical necessities. One employee lamented, “I used to be proud of my work and excited about my future here. I don’t feel that anymore.”
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In defense of the company's stance, an Amazon spokesperson stated that the company offers various benefits such as commuter benefits, elder care, and subsidized parking rates to aid in-office work. Garman himself had expressed his excitement about the change, arguing that the current three-day-per-week policy made collaboration difficult as people might be in offices on different days.
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However, the company-wide policy, announced in September by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, has sparked controversy within Amazon. Critics argue that it is wasteful as it increases commuting time and expense when remote work has proven to be effective. Some employees have even threatened to leave the company over this issue.
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The letter also references a 2020 blog post by Garman, in which he acknowledged that AWS had been running effectively at the onset of the pandemic when most workers were remote. This seems to contradict Amazon's stricter approach to return-to-office mandates compared to many of its tech peers who are enforcing two- and three-day policies. Despite this, the company maintains that the policy aids workers to "invent, collaborate and be connected," with Garman suggesting that "we didn’t really accomplish anything" under the three-day policy.
