Amazon halts return to office policy for US workers due to lack of office space
- Amazon had announced a full-time RTO mandate for January 2025
- But the company is still not ready for the influx of desk workers
- Some workers worry that RTOs are designed to push them away
Amazon’s return-to-office (RTO) policy has apparently been put on hold because the company does not have sufficient office space in some locations.
New reports from Bloomberg And Business insider state that insufficient office space at several of the e-commerce giant’s U.S. locations caused the temporary pause.
The news was already a controversial move that led to widespread dissatisfaction among employees. The news follows CEO Andy Jassy’s announcement in September that employees would move from their previous three-day office work policy to a full-time mandate, which left a bitter taste in the mouths of many.
Amazon’s RTO is not working
This move would require employees to be in the office five days a week from January 2, 2025, but weeks before the policy takes effect, and with the office set to be closed over Christmas and New Year, the company has failed to provide sufficient office space.
Jassy had hoped that bringing people back to the office would enable better collaboration, cohesion and social benefits. The policies resemble pre-pandemic work setups, with assigned desks, rather than the more flexible measures that have followed in the post-pandemic world of hybrid working.
Due to capacity restrictions in offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Nashville, New York and Phoenix, some employees have been told they may not have to work full-time for at least the next four months.
The company said GeekWire that most offices would meet the January 2 target, but acknowledged that some locations might be delayed.
Employees who previously worked remotely, or a hybrid thereof, have previously expressed concerns that it would be difficult for them to return to the office full-time. Many would have to relocate or adjust their lifestyles, with some believing RTO mandates are being rolled out among tech giants, including Amazon, to push employees to resign.
The news that the company hasn’t prepared enough office space certainly reflects that sentiment, but this could just be a coincidence. Ny Breaking presented that idea to Amazon, but we didn’t get an immediate response.