August 14, 2023
Amazon is warning staff who are not meeting its expectations for office attendance.
The company has sent emails to some employees who have not been coming into the office three days a week, even though their assigned building is ready. Amazon says it is “reaching out” to these employees because they are not “currently meeting our expectation of joining your colleagues in the office at least three days a week.”
The emails have sparked anger among some Amazon employees, who say they are being unfairly targeted. Some employees have complained that they have been coming into the office three days a week, but they still received the warning email. Others have said that they have legitimate reasons for not coming into the office more often, such as childcare or health concerns.
Other firms’ like Blue Origin and Meta’s return-to-office policies are being questioned as well. The irony extends to Zoom, a firm famous with virtual collaboration, which requires office visits and has designated “engagement hubs” for in-person work. Meanwhile, Google provides novel options such as subsidized local hotel stays.
Amazon has defended its decision to send the emails, saying that it is “committed to providing a great workplace for our employees.” The company says that it is “important for our employees to be able to collaborate and build relationships in person.”
The sources for this piece include an article in TheRegister.
