Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman has addressed employees who are unhappy with the company's decision to require a full return to the office, urging them to consider other options if they prefer not to comply.
Earlier this year, AWS announced a policy requiring employees to return to the office five days a week, ending its previous hybrid working model. Workers were given until January 2 to return to full-time, in-person work. Unsurprisingly, the decision has caused discontent among employees, with reports suggesting that around 90% of the workforce is unhappy with the change, and 73% are considering looking for new jobs.
Garman's response to unhappy employees
In response to the growing dissatisfaction, Garman made it clear that the company respects the preferences of its staff but firmly stands by the decision. “If there are people who just don't work well in that environment and don't want to, that's okay, there are other companies around,” Garman said. He explained that returning to the office enhanced workers' collaboration, creativity, and connection.
While the policy has sparked frustration, Garman stressed that AWS wants to foster an environment where teams can work together efficiently and innovate. He added, “When we want to innovate on interesting products, I have not seen an ability for us to do that when we're not in-person.”
However, the return-to-office policy is being enforced strictly. Reports have surfaced of employees who were not complying being told that they were “voluntarily resigning.” Some have even found themselves locked out of company systems due to failing to return to the office.
Balancing innovation with workplace flexibility
The new policy has divided opinions among AWS employees, many of whom enjoyed the flexibility of remote work during the pandemic. The end of hybrid working means that staff will now have to adjust to a longer commute and fewer work-from-home benefits. Nevertheless, AWS maintains that this is a positive move for the company.
“By the way, I don't mean that in a bad way,” Garman clarified. He emphasised the need for employees to be physically present in the workplace to drive innovation and build stronger connections within teams.
While some major corporations like AWS are pushing for a full return to the office, others have taken a different approach. For instance, Spotify has opted to maintain its hybrid work policy. The company's Chief HR Officer recently stated that Spotify trusts its employees and has no intention of “treating them like children” by enforcing strict office requirements. This statement reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where some companies are sticking with flexible work arrangements, trusting their employees to deliver results regardless of where they are working.
