Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announces return to office five days per week starting in 2025

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced on Monday that all Amazon employees must return to the office five days per week starting in 2025. This decision comes as a surprise to many, as hybrid work arrangements have become increasingly popular post-pandemic.

Jassy emphasized the benefits of in-person work, stating that teams that have been back in the office at least three days a week have been more collaborative, connected, and innovative. Despite some pushback from employees, Jassy made it clear that he believes the advantages of being together in the office are significant.

However, Jassy also acknowledged that some employees may have extenuating circumstances that prevent them from returning to the office full-time. These employees may be granted exceptions to continue working remotely or in a hybrid arrangement.

In addition to the return to the office mandate, Amazon will also be reconfiguring its corporate structure by reducing the number of managers. The senior leadership teams will increase the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15% by the end of March.

This decision by Amazon reflects a larger trend in the professional world, as the fully remote era driven by COVID is fading. Most workers now prefer hybrid work arrangements, according to a recent report from Morning Consult. Office foot traffic nationwide has also been on the rise, indicating a shift back towards in-person work.

Overall, Amazon’s decision to bring employees back to the office full-time marks a significant change in the company’s approach to work post-pandemic. It will be interesting to see how employees and the company as a whole adapt to this new way of working.