1000’s of Amazon workers have joined a brand new Slack channel referred to as “Distant Advocacy” to voice their issues concerning the corporate’s newly introduced return-to-office coverage. The coverage mandates that starting in Could workers return to the workplace three days every week — a call that has prompted some workers to arrange a petition in opposition.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy introduced the brand new coverage on Friday in an inside memo. Enterprise Insider reported that the Slack channel was created inside hours of the announcement to “advocate for distant work at Amazon.” Workers additionally expressed dissatisfaction with the abrupt announcement and a scarcity of readability from management. Some even prompt that the brand new coverage is pointless and is a cost-cutting measure by means of forcing workers to resign.
CNBC reported on screenshots of feedback from an Amazon newsfeed usually accessible solely internally. One mentioned partially that by “arbitrarily forcing return-to-office with out offering information to help it and regardless of clear proof that it’s the mistaken determination for workers, Amazon has failed its position as earth’s greatest employer.”
“I imagine this determination shall be detrimental to our enterprise,” the remark concluded, “and is antithetical to how we make choices at Amazon.”
The worker petition, which CNBC mentioned had 5,000 signatures as of Tuesday night, argues that distant work is extra productive, saves cash, improves work-life stability, and advantages marginalized folks. Amazon workers search the suitable to decide on the place they work, together with distant places.
With the brand new Slack channel gaining over 14,000 members as of Tuesday, Amazon workers appear prepared to face up in opposition to the brand new coverage.
