Amazon Struggles To Clarify Return-to-Office Expectations

Peter DeSantis, the Senior Vice President of Utility Computing at Amazon.Com Inc AMZN, recently addressed concerns regarding the company's return-to-office (RTO) policy.

During an internal meeting, DeSantis acknowledged the challenges, pledged to improve communication, and handled cases where employees feel pressured to return prematurely.

DeSantis revealed that the complete transition of his team members moving closer to a central office "hub" is anticipated to take up to three years. 

He encouraged employees to share their experiences if they felt pressured to relocate immediately. 

The SVP said he is committed to investigating these cases to ensure a smooth and comfortable transition for all employees, Insider reports.

The company has faced backlash from employees over its RTO policy, which it announced over six months ago. It requires employees to work in the office three times a week. 

An Amazon spokesperson, Rob Munoz, emphasized that the relocation affects a small percentage of the corporate workforce and is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

The SVP also highlighted the company's intention to build more physically cohesive teams over the next two to three years, ensuring that the office environment adds value to the employees' work experience.

Concerns were also raised about CEO Andy Jassy's comments, which some employees interpreted as a push for an immediate commitment to the RTO mandate. 

Internal guidelines required employees in remote locations to move closer to an office hub within 60 days or leave the company without severance. 

DeSantis assured that he is working to update the policy's language to avoid misinterpretation.

Despite the challenges, DeSantis underscored the benefits of working from the office, including enhanced decision-making, mentoring, and identifying future leaders. 

The three-day office work requirement was deemed a reasonable average, and there is no current discussion of moving to a four-day work week. 

The focus remains on fostering an environment of energy, connection, and collaboration.

Other companies, like International Business Machines Corp IBM and Zoom Video Communications, Inc ZM, also cracked down on their remote work policies.

Meta Platforms Inc META has recently reiterated the importance of employee office attendance, threatening possible job terminations.

Price Action: AMZN shares are trading lower by 0.22% at $125.70 premarket on the last check Wednesday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.