Some Amazon employees have decided to quit their jobs rather than relocate to a different state as part of the company’s return-to-office policy. The e-commerce giant has asked some of its remote workers to move to a designated hub location by the first half of 2024, or find another position within the company.
Relocation policy affects a small percentage of workers
According to a report by CNBC, the relocation policy affects a small percentage of Amazon’s workforce, which includes about 350,000 corporate employees. The company said it decided to communicate directly with the teams and individuals who are affected by the policy, and provide them with relocation benefits if they choose to move.
The hub locations vary by team, and each team determines which locations are their hub. Some of the possible hubs are Seattle, Arlington, New York, Chicago, San Francisco or another main office.
Employees cite financial and personal reasons for quitting
Some employees who were hired in remote roles or moved away from their in-person office location during the Covid pandemic said they were caught off guard by the relocation requirement. They cited financial and personal reasons for quitting, such as higher living costs, housing leases, family obligations or school transitions.
Some employees said they were given 30 to 60 days to make a decision, while others said they were not given a clear timeline. Some also said they were not offered a salary increase or a cost-of-living adjustment to compensate for the move.
Amazon faces backlash over return-to-office policy
The relocation policy is part of Amazon’s aggressive effort to get employees back to the office, after allowing them to work from home for more than a year due to the Covid pandemic. The company has mandated that employees return to the office at least three days a week starting from September 7.
However, some employees have expressed dissatisfaction and frustration over the return-to-office policy, saying that it ignores their preferences and needs. In May, hundreds of Amazon employees staged a walkout at the company’s headquarters in Seattle over the policy and its lack of progress on climate change initiatives.
Amazon is not the only tech company that has faced backlash over its return-to-office plans. Google, Apple and Facebook have also seen some employees protest or resign over their policies, which range from flexible to mandatory.
