Summary
Amazon’s rollout of its return-to-office (RTO) mandate, requiring employees to be in offices five days a week starting January 2024, has sparked backlash due to logistical failures and poor communication.
While some employees are granted delays due to insufficient office space in cities like Phoenix, Austin, and New York, frustration has grown over unclear planning and crowded conditions.
Critics say this highlights leadership’s mismanagement, risks talent loss, and worsens morale, with many employees considering leaving.
Amazon’s approach mirrors broader dissatisfaction seen with RTO mandates across the tech sector.
It’s been years since I’ve worked at Amazon, but even before Covid the cracks in the system started showing. When I joined “consultant” and “MBA” were dirty words. But by the time I was leaving these same “does nothing, demands everything” leaders were all ex-consultants with MBAs. They were all “Program/Product Managers” that seemed to just create requirements out of thin air for no reason to justify their jobs. Engineers had a high bar for promotion, while these jackasses seemed to get one every 6 months. When I left, I was told I was not wanted back and was a “non rehire”. I now get hit up every week to come back and I remind recruiters that I’m a “non rehire” and they are so desperate they are willing to look past that and give a promotion. I usually end the convo by demanding a crazy amount of money so they will stop messaging, but there is always a new recruiter every week