Amazon Inc. CEO Andy Jassy’s move to require employees to return to the office full-time highlights his concern that new hires may not fully grasp the company culture, according to a report by Bloomberg on Monday, October 7.
Jassy startled the staff last month by sending out a note telling them to begin visiting the office five days a week starting in January. According to the article, many Amazon employees are currently permitted to work from home two days a week.
The directive caught many of Amazon’s 350,000+ employees by surprise and reignited a heated discussion in the tech sector regarding employee benefits and the importance of in-person work. Some speculated that Jassy’s decision might be an additional method to trim the workforce following a series of layoffs in recent years. The CEO previously emphasized his aim to streamline management layers, citing bureaucracy as a factor hindering Amazon’s progress, according to the report.
Senior leadership pushed for the change, believing that the next generation of workers was being neglected instead of being properly trained in the “Amazon way,” according to three sources familiar with the matter, as reported by the agency.
Jassy highlighted “culture” multiple times in his memo, stating, “Maintaining a strong culture is not a given. It requires constant effort,” according to the report.
Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser declined to comment beyond what was mentioned in the CEO’s memo, as noted in the report.
Tolerance for frank and heated debate
Amazon, known for its startup-like approach, has long recognized that its culture may appear unconventional to outsiders. Employees proposing new ideas are required to draft comprehensive memos instead of using presentation slides. The report highlights the company’s strong focus on data analysis and trends, along with an openness to direct and sometimes heated discussions.
The company is also infamous for its demanding environment and tight deadlines, where employees are expected to work long hours, work hard, and work smart—a philosophy laid out by founder Jeff Bezos to the first recruits.
Jassy, who joined Amazon straight out of business school in 1997, is considered by his colleagues to be both a product of and an advocate for these principles. Since succeeding Bezos three years ago, he has become the leading ambassador for Amazon’s culture, frequently engaging with employees and even creating videos to explain each of the company’s leadership principles, according to the report.
As Amazon expanded its workforce and eased the requirement for employees to be physically based in major hubs, executives have voiced concerns that recent graduates and new hires may be missing vital elements of the company’s culture, which cannot be fully communicated through virtual meetings or messaging platforms.
“Culture is a critical aspect of how we operate, driving our innovation and pace over the past 25 years,” said Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, during a press event last week. “It is very challenging to convey, train new employees on, and uphold when relying solely on video calls,” as mentioned in the report.
Aware that the new office schedule could spark controversy, senior leadership spent weeks deliberating the pros and cons, according to two sources familiar with the situation. The company, however, denied claims that the policy was intended to encourage employees to leave, according to the report.
In internal surveys, employees voiced their dissatisfaction and urged the company to reconsider. Some have already resigned, while others are actively seeking opportunities elsewhere. The last time Amazon mandated a return to the office, employees staged a walkout at the company’s Seattle headquarters. It remains uncertain whether a similar protest will occur again, as noted in the report.