Some Amazon employees will be required to relocate due to a company policy mandating workers to be in the office three days a week. This policy affects workers initially hired for remote positions and those who relocated during the pandemic's peak. 

(Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
A man waits to cross the street near an Amazon Fresh store in Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia on March 31, 2023. - Amazon announced they are delaying construction on part of the second phase of HQ2, its USD 2.5 billion East Coast headquarters in Arlington. 

Relocation of Remote Employees

Amazon is set to enforce a mandate for certain corporate employees to relocate as its return-to-office policy demands them to be in the office three days a week. According to Engadget, this policy becomes the reason for the recent tension between the tech giant and its workforce following layoffs initiated last year.

Remote workers will have to report to designated "main hub" offices, including the company headquarters in Seattle, New York, San Francisco, and other locations. However, the decision on who has to relocate and where will be determined on a departmental basis.

Internal messages revealed that Amazon employees who decline to relocate near the main offices of their teams are being presented with two options: either they must find a new job within the company or leave through a "voluntary resignation" process.

Also Read: Amazon Employees Walkout Over Company's Climate Impact, Return-To-Office Policy

Amazon's Response

According to Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser, the company is committed to offering relocation benefits to employees who are required to move due to the policy. Additionally, they will carefully review and consider requests for exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

He said: "There are more energy, collaboration, and connections happening since we've been working together at least three days per week, and we've heard this from lots of employees and the businesses that surround our offices."

As of now, The Washington Post reported that the company is continuing to look at the best possible ways to provide a resolution to this issue for its teams and employees. Glasser noted that they will communicate directly with employees as they make decisions affecting the workers.

Return-to-Office Policy of Amazon

The company's decision to relocate employees signifies a step up in their efforts to encourage employees to return to office. In February, Amazon implemented the return-to-office policy mandating three days of in-office work per week, which became effective in May. 

In response to the policy change, hundreds of corporate workers staged protests outside the company's Seattle headquarters, which led to Amazon granting team leaders the authority to decide the working arrangements for their teams. 

Wall Street Journal reported that Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy explained that the company's decision to bring workers back to the office was based on careful observations during the pandemic. 

"It's easier to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture when we're in the office together most of the time and surrounded by our colleagues," he noted.

The senior leadership team closely monitored staff performance and sought insights from other companies' leaders, finding employees tended to be more engaged and collaborate more effectively when working in person. 

Related Article: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Supports Remote and Hybrid Work, No Plans on Returning to Office