During an interview on CNBC’s Power Lunch on July 1, 2024, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman addressed employees regarding the company’s new five-day in-office policy. At an all-hands meeting held at the company’s second headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, Garman communicated a straightforward message to staff who do not support Amazon’s latest workplace policy, stating that they are free to leave.
Garman emphasized the importance of a collaborative environment for Amazon’s innovation and culture. He suggested that individuals who prefer a different work setting may find other opportunities elsewhere. According to a transcript seen by CNBC and earlier reports by Reuters, he stated, “At Amazon, we want an environment where we are working together, and we feel that collaborative environment is incredibly important for our innovation and for our culture.”
This new mandate, announced last month, requires corporate employees to attend the office five days a week, a significant change from the previous model that required only three days per week of in-office presence. Amazon employees have until January 2 to adhere to this updated policy.
The decision is part of Amazon’s strategy to remain competitive with companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google, particularly in the development of generative artificial intelligence. As a focal area for Garman, who took over AWS in June following the departure of Adam Selipsky, this effort aligns with the company’s strategic priorities.
Despite the company’s rationale, the policy has met resistance from some Amazon employees claiming equal productivity from home or in hybrid environments. They argue the mandate imposes additional challenges, especially for families and caregivers. Approximately 37,000 employees joined an internal Slack channel advocating remote work and expressing concerns about the new rule.
Garman, however, noted that after discussions with employees, most people are enthusiastic about returning to the office. He acknowledged some flexibility could be approved by managers for specific cases, such as working from home to achieve a quieter workspace.
An Amazon spokesperson did not immediately comment on the situation. Garman further highlighted the significance of Amazon’s “leadership principles,” which guide decision-making and goal setting for employees. He referenced the principle of “disagree and commit,” explaining its implementation is difficult through Amazon’s videoconferencing platform, Chime.
Garman humorously noted the challenges of conducting disagreements via Chime calls, emphasizing the need for a face-to-face office environment to maintain effective communication and culture.
