Monday marked the first day on the job in person for 50,000 Amazon workers in Seattle.
The return of workers to work after many people turned to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic was expected to affect city traffic. Nearby Bellevue is preparing to welcome 12,000 Amazon workers to offices there. FOX 13 reported.
The back-to-work order was announced last September by CEO Andy Jassy, who linked the new five-day requirement to Amazon's efforts to “innovate, collaborate and be better set up to be sufficiently connected to each other and to our culture to deliver. Customers and The absolute best for business.”
The tech giant previously moved from remote work to mandatory three days a week in the office in May last year and implemented some other changes.
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The month following the full-time announcement in the office, more than 500 Amazon employees Amazon has sent a letter to Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman, calling for the mandate to be reversed and challenging his recent statement that the policy has “broad support” among workers.
The letter included personal stories from a dozen employees, who cited family obligations, medical needs and extensive commute times as barriers to complying with the policy. One worker reported a four-hour commute to the nearest office, while another noted that his wife would have to quit her job if they relocated.
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Many employees Argued that remote work is counterproductive and that commuting adds unnecessary time and expense. Amazon is enforcing the policy by asking employees to either report to a regional office, relocate to Seattle or “voluntarily resign” if they can't comply.
Amazon indicated to Fox Business that the company understands this may be a transition for some employees, so they are sharing this guidance well before employees are expected to work from the office.
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In addition, Amazon says they're offering “Many resources” for employees depending on the location, including elder care options and access to pets.
Amazon also said in a statement that it can provide employees with financed or reimbursable public transportation, free commuter shuttles, subsidized monthly parking rates and several other sustainable commuting assistance options.
FOX Business' Jasmine Bahr and Aislin Murphy contributed to this report.