Amazon exec says workers who don't want to return to office can quit: 'There are other companies'

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman made headlines this week for putting his feelings plainly when it comes to the company’s five-day-in-office policy.

"If there are people who just don't work well in that environment and don't want to, that's okay, there are other companies around,” Garman said. "By the way, I don't mean that in a bad way," he said, adding "we want to be in an environment where we're working together."

He made the remark Thursday at an Amazon Web Services – or AWS – meeting on Thursday, reported by Reuters .

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Amazon recently announced a return-to-office policy

The remark comes a month after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that employees would be required to switch from the three-day-in-office schedule to five days per week.

Prior to Jassy’s September announcement, employees had returned to the office three days a week, which strengthened the company quite a bit, he said. He added that the company plans to bring back “assigned desk arrangements in locations that were previously organized that way.”

About the company’s current three-day policy, Garman said ”We didn't really accomplish anything, like we didn't get to work together and learn from each other."

At Thursday’s meeting, Garman added that nine out of 10 workers he has talked to about the policy approve of the change, and it’s not possible to do that and make new products without being in person, Reuters reported.

Amazon CEO discussed returning to the office last month

Jassy, Amazon’s CEO, said in September that the company’s goal was to have the best setup to work together, which means returning to the office the way the company was structured pre-COVID.

“It’s easier for our teammates to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture,” Jassy said. “Collaborating, brainstorming, and inventing are simpler and more effective; teaching and learning from one another are more seamless; and, teams tend to be better connected to one another.”

Jassy acknowledged that returning to the office full-time may be difficult for some employees, so the company is giving employees until Jan. 2, 2025 to make the switch.

He added that AWS wants to function like “the world’s largest startup,” which means being “joined at the hip with your teammates when inventing and solving hard problems.”

Some Amazon employees have already quit due to in-office policy, according to Blind survey

Garman, who said employees who don’t support the policy can find work elsewhere, is excited about the new policy but acknowledged that not everyone shares his sentiments, Reuters reported.

In fact, 91% percent of Amazon employees surveyed by the anonymous social media app Blind said they did not support the company’s decision to return to the office full-time. Blind surveyed 2,585 verified Amazon workers the day after the company’s announcement.

Questions included:

1. Are you satisfied with Andy Jassy’s decision to require in-office work five days a week beginning in January 2025?
2. Are you considering looking for another job because of the in-office work policy?
3. Do you know anyone at Amazon who is considering looking for another job because of the in-office work policy?
4. Do you know anyone who has quit because of the recently announced in-office work policy?

Of those surveyed, 73% said they are looking for a new job because of the new policy. The social media site also reported that 80% of those surveyed said they know someone who is considering looking for another job because of the in-office policy.

Regarding people who have already taken action, 32% said they know someone who has quit because of the policy.

This story has been updated.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amazon exec says workers who don't want to return to office can quit: 'There are other companies'