Amazon has dismissed claims that its policy requiring employees to resume full-time, in-person work is an attempt to reduce staffing levels via natural turnover. The technogical titan’s employees, voicing their concerns anonymously, suggest this could instigate a mass departure – an indirect way for the company to reduce personnel. These conjectures emerged on workers’ application, Blind; a forum where the employees have been discussing a message from CEO Andy Jassy, which was then shared on Amazon’s public blog.
In the memo, Mr Jassy stated that from January next year, employees would need to work from an Amazon office for five days a week instead of the current three-day format. The directive was also extended to Amazon’s Ireland-based workforce. An Amazon representative has said the move is aimed at fostering a stronger company culture, boosting teamwork and facilitating the delivery of top-tier results for clients and the business alike.
Inside the company, while some were unsurprised by the announcement, it was acknowledged that the shift would not suit everyone and may lead to some departures. The new requirement is part of the company’s reversal of policies introduced during the pandemic era, which had permitted remote work. Amazon isn’t alone in its reassessment of remote work’s merit.
In contrast, Twitter (now rebranded as X) allowed employees to permanently work from home in May 2020. However, in 2022, when Elon Musk assumed ownership, he declared that employees must come back to office unless a particular exemption applies. Even though cost-efficient smaller office spaces and diminished on-site complications offer some appeal, other companies mourn the lost chances for interactive collaboration that arise from remote working.
Studies on remote work have yielded diverse results. A research conducted by Stanford revealed that remote employees were 9% more efficient two years post the onset of the pandemic in comparison to their office-based counterparts. Yet, there have been conflicting studies suggesting that productivity lessens when working from home, advocating a blend of remote and office work. This could prompt the tech industry to reassess the flexible work policies introduced during the pandemic.
What are the existing work norms at different tech companies?
At Stripe, the Irish-established fintech company, there’s no fixed policy on remote work, like several other tech firms. The company states that approximately one-third of its workforce operates entirely from home. Simultaneously, Stripe has employees stationed in its offices in Ireland, the UK, the US or other global locations. Such employees are expected to be in the office half of the week.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, implemented a triple-day office policy a year ago. As of 5th September, 2023, those assigned a desk at the office were expected to come to the office thrice a week, while those approved for remote work were allowed to continue. To facilitate team cohesion and collaboration, the company required regular team interaction.
A Meta representative stated, “As our technology enhances, we anticipate that distributed work will keep playing a vital role in the future. Our current in-person engagement is tailored to providing a fruitful experience for those who opt to work from the office. We’re strategic about our investments in remote work.
Google, which developed collaborative tools like Google Workspace that enable remote work, went entirely remote where roles permitted during the pandemic. This left many of its buildings underused or vacant. A significant number of employees left the country during this period. While some estimates suggest that 30% of Google’s Irish workforce did so, insiders believe this percentage is exaggerated.
In 2020, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, instructed employees to return to their employed country by the year’s end. Two years later, they were requested to come to the office three days a week- a policy which remains in force.
Due to the pandemic and the shift to remote working, Microsoft has greatly benefitted. Their suite of resources, specifically designed for seamless collaboration, including Office 365 and Teams, effectively supports flexible working. Naturally, they’ve incorporated a hybrid working model into their own business operations.
While the approach to hybrid working varies according to the roles Microsoft offers, it mainly follows a 50% arrangement. Any increase in remote working would require managerial approval.
Similarly, Apple has expressed a strong commitment to the hybrid working model. Employed by the corporate sector, employees are required to report to the office three days a week starting from April 2022, beginning with a single day for the initial period.
The expectation from May 23rd was for employees to be present in the office for at least three days a week, particularly on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. However, the staff voiced their displeasure with this directive. A letter sent to the executive board criticised the mandatory in-office days, arguing that the future of work lies in connection – collaborating whenever necessary, with relevant colleagues regardless of their geographical location.