AWS CEO Defends Return-to-Office Policy, Cites Employee Support

Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman has defended the company’s new return-to-office (RTO) policy, stating that most employees he has spoken with are supportive of the change, Business Insider reports.

During an all-hands meeting on Thursday, Garman addressed concerns surrounding the policy, which requires corporate staff to return to the office five days a week starting in January.

Garman emphasized that remote work has made it difficult to foster innovation and collaboration, two pillars of Amazon’s work culture. According to a leaked transcript obtained by Business Insider, Garman said nine out of 10 employees he’s spoken with are “excited” about the shift back to in-person work. For those who are not on board with the policy, Garman suggested they may want to consider leaving the company, though he clarified that this wasn’t meant in a negative way.

“When we want to innovate… I have not seen an ability for us to do that when we’re not in person,” Garman said.

He pointed out that on days when his team was working remotely, “we didn’t really accomplish anything.” He also reiterated the importance of Amazon’s Leadership Principles and how the in-office environment contributes to the company’s unique culture.

The new RTO policy has been met with resistance from some Amazon employees, with one worker describing the decision as a “betrayal.” However, Garman noted that while in-office work will be the standard, there will still be flexibility in certain situations, such as attending customer meetings or handling personal appointments.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy previously announced the RTO plan in September, stressing the significant advantages of in-person collaboration.