Many Amazon employees are considering leaving the company after CEO Andy Jassy announced that employees will have to go back to the office 5 days a week starting Jan 2nd 2025. A survey by anonymous job review platform Blind, with 2,585 Amazon employees according to CNBC Make It, shows widespread discontent with the new policy.
High Dissatisfaction and Exodus
The survey results are bad for Amazon. 73% are considering quitting due to the mandatory office return. 91% are very dissatisfied with the policy. 80% of employees say colleagues are actively looking for new jobs. 32% know someone who has already resigned because of the policy.
Employee Morale Down
The survey also shows the impact on employee morale. One verified Amazon employee said on Blind, “My morale for this job is gone, gonna totally check out till PIP“, referring to the company’s performance management system. This means potential decline in productivity and engagement.
Flexibility and Work-Life Balance
A common theme in the survey responses was the loss of work-life balance with the mandatory return-to-office policy. Several employees, especially those who are parents or caregivers, expressed concerns about the inflexibility of the new policy. One verified Amazon employee, a parent, said, “The RTO [Return-to-Office] blanket policy is crazy, especially for those of us who were hired remotely and live far from an office. I have kids and family here, so I’m not willing to relocate.” These comments show the challenges for employees juggling work and personal responsibilities with the new policy.
Uncertainty and Job Security
The survey also showed job security as a factor in employee decisions. Some employees questioned the reason for relocation, especially with layoffs on the horizon. One said, “Even if I didn’t have a family, there’s too much risk I’d be laid off in 6 months. Why would I take that chance by moving?” This shows a bigger issue of trust and predictability in the company.
Long term impact of the mandatory office return policy on Amazon is unclear. While the company may get more in-person collaboration, the loss of talent and decline in employee morale will be big challenges. As Jan 2nd deadline approaches, we’ll have to watch and see how it plays out for Amazon’s workforce and overall performance.
