Amazon will require all office workers to work in person at least three days a week, ending a policy that left remote work decisions to team leaders.
Chief Andy Jassy informed staff of the change on Friday, saying it would go into effect on May 1.
The company joins others like Disney and Starbucks in tightening rules on remote work this year.
Mr Jassy said the change would help strengthen communication, career development and company culture.
“Collaborating and inventing is easier and more effective when we’re in person,” he wrote in a memo shared by the company.
Remote work has skyrocketed during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. It remains far more common than it was before the pandemic, but surveys suggest the practice is slowly reversing.
- Businesses are returning towards flexible working
- “I’d rather quit my job than go back to the office”
According to a monthly online survey of work arrangements and hiring conducted by Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom and others since May 2020, the proportion of days worked from home fell to 27% in January, from nearly 35% a year earlier.
Disney’s policy, announced in January, requires employees to report to the office at least four days a week starting in March.
Starbucks requires at least three days of in-person work, while gaming company Activision Blizzard announced plans for a similar policy this week.
High-profile business leaders like Elon Musk – who quit remote work entirely at Tesla and Twitter – have long expressed dislike for the practice.
But many employees have resisted the changes, and in some cases employers have backed down.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently said the city was considering relaxing its office requirements because it is struggling to fill vacancies.
Mr Jassy said executives have had time to observe the pros and cons of different ways of working.
“I know it will take time for some employees to readjust to a new way of working,” he wrote. “But I’m very optimistic about the positive impact this will have on the way we serve and invent on behalf of clients, and on the growth and success of our people.”
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