Amazon's Matt Garman says employees go back to the office or quit

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman made headlines this week for outspokenly expressing his feelings when it comes to the company's five-day-office policy.

“If there are people who just don't do well in that environment and don't want to, well, there are other organizations around,” Garman said. ” he said, adding “we want to be in an environment where we are working together.”

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

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Amazon recently announced a back-to-office policy

The comments come a month after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that employees would have to switch from a three-day-in-the-office schedule to five days per week.

Before Jaycee's September announcement, employees were back in the office three days a week, which strengthened the company quite a bit, he said. He added that the company plans to bring back “fixed desk systems to previously organized spaces.”

Of the company's current three-day policy, Garman says “we haven't really accomplished anything, like we haven't been able to work together and learn from each other.”

At Thursday's meeting, German added that nine out of 10 workers he has spoken with approve of the policy change, and that it is not possible to do so and create new products without being in person, Reuters reported.

The Amazon CEO discussed returning to the office last month

Amazon CEO Jacey said in September that the company's goal was to set up the best way to work together, which meant returning to offices the way the company was structured before Covid.

“It's easy for our teammates to learn, model, practice and reinforce our culture,” Jacey said. “Collaboration, brainstorming, and innovation are easier and more effective; teaching and learning from each other is more seamless; and, teams are better connected to each other.”

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

He added that AWS wants to act like “the biggest startup in the world,” which means “joining your teammates at the hip while innovating and solving hard problems.”

According to the blind survey, some Amazon employees have already quit because of office policies

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% 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 employees the day after the company's announcement.

Questions include:

1. Are you happy with Andy Jassy's decision to work in the office five days a week from January 2025?
2. Are you looking for another job because of the work ethic in the office?
3. Do you know someone at Amazon who is looking for another job because of the office work ethic?
4. Do you know someone who quit because of the recently announced in-office work policy?

73% of those surveyed said they are looking for new jobs because of the new policy. The social media site also reported that 80% of those surveyed said they know someone who is looking for another job because of office policies.

Of those who have already taken action, 32% said they know someone who has resigned because of the policy.

This story has been updated.

Salen Martin is a reporter for USA Today's NOW team. He is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Follow him on Twitter@salinemartin Or email himsdmartin@usatoday.com.