Amazon is instituting a policy that may impact the career advancement of employees who choose not to return to the office. The company has communicated that non-compliance with the work-from-office directives will require the approval of a vice-president for promotions.
According to a report from Business Insider, Amazon conveyed this message to employees through internal communication, emphasizing that managers play a crucial role in the promotion process, responsible for supporting employee growth through regular discussions and challenging assignments, and ensuring all necessary inputs for promotions are completed.
Amazon’s Promotion Policy Shift: VP Approval Required for Employees Not Complying with Office Return Mandate
The directive specifies that employees whose roles require them to work from the office at least three days a week and are not in compliance will have their managers informed, and VP approval will become a requisite for promotions. This move follows Amazon’s announcement in February of a work-from-home policy, mandating employees to return to the office for at least three days a week starting in May.
Amazon Employees Rally Against Work-from-Office Policy: Challenges and CEO’s Call for Commitment
In response to this policy shift, around 30,000 Amazon employees petitioned the company in March to reconsider the work-from-office requirement. In May, employees in the US staged protests during a lunchtime demonstration against the policy. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reinforced the company’s commitment to returning to the office at least three days a week in August, stating that it’s time to “disagree and commit.” Jassy suggested that employees unable to align with this approach might find Amazon’s work culture challenging.
