Amazon employees unite against new back-to-office policy

Thousands of Amazon employees have joined a new Slack channel called "Remote Advocacy" to voice concerns about the company's recently announced back-to-office policy. The policy requires that starting in May, employees return to the office three days a week - a move that has prompted some employees to organize a petition in opposition.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced the new policy Friday in an internal memo. Business Insider reported that the Slack channel was created hours after the announcement to "advocate for remote working at Amazon." Employees also expressed dissatisfaction with the abrupt announcement and lack of clarity from management. Some even suggested that the new policy was unnecessary and was a cost-cutting measure by forcing employees to quit.

CNBC reported screenshots of comments from an Amazon news feed normally only available internally. One said in part that by "arbitrarily forcing a return to work without providing supporting data and despite clear evidence that this is a bad decision for employees, Amazon has failed in its role as the best employer in the world".

"I believe this decision will be detrimental to our business," the comment concludes, "and is contrary to the way we make decisions at Amazon."

Employee petition, which CNBC reported had 5,000 signatures as of Tuesday night, argues remote work is more productive, saves money, improves work-life balance and benefits marginalized people. Amazon employees demand the right to choose where they work, including remote locations.

With the new Slack channel growing to over 14,000 members as of Tuesday, Amazon employees seem set to oppose the new policy.