Amazon penalizes U.S. staff for remote work
WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — Amazon started penalizing its employees in the United States (U.S.) who aren’t in the office at least three days a week.
According to emails shared with the Financial Times, some staff received alerts stating they were “not currently meeting our expectation of joining your colleagues in the office at least three days a week.”
Though the emails were obviously intended for employees who spent less than three days a week in the office for the past eight weeks, some workers also reported receiving the email by mistake.
This move places Amazon among other tech giants, like Apple and Twitter, nudging employees back to physical workplaces. Apple had earlier intimated punitive measures for those not returning part-time, and Elon Musk, Twitter’s CEO, insisted on a full-time office return.
The latest email reportedly angered some employees, with one writing, “Is this supposed to scare people?” in an internal chat.
Some workers’ rights groups also stated that the push for an office return would only strengthen the growing labor movement in the tech space.
“Across its business lines, Amazon imposes a rigid and punitive system of management in an attempt to control and silence workers,” said Ryan Gerety, director of the Athena Coalition, a progressive group that has previously campaigned against Amazon.
“Amazon’s actions will only fuel the efforts of workers who continue organizing for a voice in the workplace,” he added.
Post-pandemic saw a rise in tech professionals working remotely. By May 2022, a Morning Consult study revealed 48% of tech employees were fully remote, compared to just 22% pre-pandemic. Currently, 85% of them either work remotely or follow a hybrid model.
Big tech companies like Google, Meta, and Apple have invested heavily in opulent office spaces, but the allure of returning full-time is waning for many tech professionals.
