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.
This was 100% about downsizing their workforce without having to do mass layoffs. It just didn’t work like they hoped it would.
Absolutely, as most major companies have been doing the last couple of years to shed their COVID weight. My point though is that, in the case of Amazon, it doesn’t directly point to financial distress.