Amazon Tells Employees to Return to Office Five Days a Week

Amazon is mandating its corporate employees to return to the office five days a week, according to a memo from CEO Andy Jassy released on Monday. This new policy marks a shift from the previous hybrid model, which required three days of in-office work. Employees will need to comply with this directive by January 2, 2025, unless granted an exception by their organization’s leadership.

In his memo, Jassy emphasized that the company aims to strengthen its corporate culture and streamline operations. He highlighted that prior to the pandemic, remote work wasn’t a given, and the same will apply moving forward. He also announced that Amazon will reduce management layers, expecting each team to increase its ratio of individual contributors to managers by 15% by the end of Q1 2025. This restructuring is part of an effort to “flatten” the organization and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.

Jassy noted that being physically present in the office fosters collaboration, creativity, and a stronger cultural connection, which is vital for maintaining Amazon’s pace of innovation and decision-making.

Amazon, which rapidly expanded its workforce during the pandemic, now aims to optimize its structure and maintain a startup-like culture as it continues to grow. The company’s workforce saw only a 5% increase this year, a significant drop from its 14% expansion rate in 2022.