Amazon recently announced they are requiring all employees to return to the office 5 days per week. Recruiting in Toronto, we know they are certainly not the first company to make this type of change and shift away from remote work. More organizations are starting to consider it.
But is forcing workers back to the office a good move? Many people are skeptical and think the company’s return to the office mandate could negatively affect retention. Let’s take a look at the recent announcement and discuss how it could affect retention.
Amazon Workers Are Required to Return to the Office Full-time in 2025
Amazon recently announced they are requiring workers to return to the office full-time starting January 2, 2025. While not the first big company, they are perhaps the most well-known to make this type of announcement. Other companies such as Boeing and UPS are also requiring employees to return to a 5-day in-office schedule.
This is a move Amazon believes will strengthen the company culture and team. Here’s what Amazon CEO Andy Jassy had to say in his September 16, 2024 announcement:
“To address the second issue of being better set up to invent, collaborate, and be connected enough to each other and our culture to deliver the absolute best for customers and the business, we’ve decided that we’re going to return to being in the office the way we were before the onset of COVID.”
How Will Amazon’s Return to Office Mandate Impact Retention?
Studies indicate that numerous industries have demonstrated that remote work can encourage fresh approaches to teamwork and does not limit innovation. This is one of the reasons many are questioning this move by Amazon.
Requiring employees to return to the office could lower morale and make it harder to retain top talent. Here’s why:
- It Creates A Disconnect Between The Company and Employees: Amazon’s return-to-office (RTO) policy may create a mismatch between the company’s expectations and employees’ preferences, potentially lowering morale, increasing turnover, and resulting in the loss of top talent.
- It Alienates Remote Workers: The RTO policy might make employees who have adjusted to remote work feel alienated, especially those who appreciate the flexibility it offers.
- It Will Decrease Employee Engagement: There is no doubt many will not be happy to be forced back into the office. Mandating a return to the office may reduce engagement and productivity without necessarily improving business outcomes.
- Discrimination Against Working Parents: Some argue that RTO policies unfairly impact working parents, who may face additional challenges with in-office mandates.
- It’s A Signal The Company Is Focused On Profit Over Well-being: For some, the emphasis on RTO reflects a focus on profit over employees’ work-life balance, indicating a lack of priority for employee well-being.
These negative repercussions add up to one important thing – a struggle for Amazon to retain talent. I’m sure that some employees are already looking to exit the company and many could follow in the coming months. Time will tell how much of an impact this policy change will have on Amazon’s ability to retain its current people and attract new talent.
More On Retention and Return To Work Mandates
The Data is In: Companies Mandating Office Returns are Struggling to Recruit & Retain
Why NOW is the Time to Double Down on Employee Retention
Are In-Office Workers More Likely to Receive Raises & Promotions?
