'Not true': Amazon denies using office-return as backdoor layoffs

Amazon has denied that its controversial office-return policy starting next year is a backdoor layoff for the organisation, according to reports.

CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged at an all-hands meeting this week some emerging theories that the retail giant implemented the full office return plan as a backdoor layoff or as part of a deal with cities.

"I can tell you both of those are not true. You know, this was not a cost play for us. This is very much about our culture and strengthening our culture," Jassy said as quoted by Reuters.

Amazon's full office return

Amazon's controversial plan will see employees return on-site five days a week starting January 2025, much to the dissatisfaction of employees.

In fact, recent research further revealed that the plan is making 73% of employees consider looking for a new job.

Matt Garman, chief executive officer of Amazon Web Services, previously told employees who don't want to return on-site can look for other employers instead.

"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.

He doubled down on the retail giant's narrative that working on-site will boost collaboration in Amazon, echoing Jassy's sentiments when he first announced the policy.

"At Amazon, we want to be in an environment where we are working together, and we feel that collaborative environment is incredibly important for our innovation and for our culture," Garman said.

"When we want to really, really innovate on interesting products, I have not seen an ability for us to do that when we're not in person."