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Amazon AWS CEO Matt Garman defends the company’s new 5-day-a-week office policy, starting January.
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Employees who can’t adapt to the policy are encouraged to consider leaving, citing difficulties in innovation and collaboration with remote work.
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The policy is stricter than other tech companies, with some employees already facing consequences for non-compliance.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman has sparked controversy by stating that employees who cannot commit to a 5-day-a-week office schedule should consider quitting. Garman believes that in-person collaboration is essential for innovation, citing struggles with remote work.
At an all-hands meeting, Garman emphasized that Amazon’s leadership principles are harder to apply in a remote setting. He noted that the current 3-day policy hasn’t worked as intended, making it difficult for employees to connect and work together. Garman is enthusiastic about the change, despite backlash from employees who argue that commuting is wasteful and benefits of office work aren’t data-driven.
Amazon’s return-to-office approach is stricter than peers like Google, Meta, and Microsoft. CEO Andy Jassy announced the shift to 5 days in-office to improve collaboration and innovation. Employees who don’t comply with the existing 3-day policy have faced consequences, including revoked access to company systems.
Garman’s stance has significant implications for Amazon employees. While some may adapt to the new policy, others may seek more flexible work arrangements elsewhere. As the tech industry navigates the future of work, Amazon’s approach will likely influence other companies’ policies.