My work-life under threat by Amazon’s return-to-office mandate
How the tech giant’s RTO policy reshaped careers, priorities, and the industry.
👋 Hey there, it’s Daniel again. I’ve not written in a while, but I’m now feeling much more settled into my new role that I’m ready to begin writing again. Thanks for sticking around!
The Bombshell Announcement
In September 2024, Andy Jassy dropped the bombshell: Amazon employees would soon be back in the office five days a week. No more hybrid. No more halfway. This wasn’t entirely unexpected—Amazon had been signaling a shift since February 2023—but the official announcement still landed like a gut punch for hybrid employees. This post reflects on what that shift—“RTO” for short—meant for me, others, and the industry.
If you can’t disagree and commit, it’s probably not going to work out for you at Amazon because we are going back to the office at least three days a week. — Amazon’s CEO
My Dream Job
When I first got my offer from AWS in early 2022, it was a thrilling opportunity that felt almost too good to be true. Tech giants like Amazon were hiring beyond their usual hubs, and I got in at just the right time. I passed the interview loop and received a Senior SDE offer that nearly doubled my total compensation. Those early days were incredible: I soaked up wisdom from big-tech veterans while mentoring younger engineers. The pandemic-era remote setup gave me a unique shot at growth, balance, and fulfillment. At least a third of my 100+ person org lived nowhere near an Amazon office. We thrived under the remote model.
The Quiet Push
The first sign of change came quietly: a “soft” announcement about a three-day return-to-office requirement. It was buried in an internal news post, and I remember the sinking feeling I got reading it. It reminded me of the moment years ago when I was informed of a layoff. Details were sparse. People were skeptical. An internal Slack channel sprang up to advocate for remote work policies. Many colleagues dismissed it as a blip, something Amazon would inevitably reverse. We all hoped. We were wrong.
Andy Jassy’s Message
Months later at a company meeting, Andy Jassy delivered this clear directive: “If you can’t disagree and commit, it’s probably not going to work out for you at Amazon because we are going back to the office at least three days a week.” While definitive, the word “probably” stood out to me. Could incredible performance override the relocation demand? I clung to that sliver of ambiguity.
A Looming Deadline
Relocation was no longer a question of “if” but “when,” unless I received an exception. Would the demand come right before a vest date? During peak hiring season? These questions weighed heavily on me, forcing me to evaluate not just my career but my life priorities. I had some factors in my favor: I was a high performer in my org, and we had a major release planned for re:Invent. The timing was critical—how could I deliver on such a pivotal project while navigating relocation logistics? I hoped leadership would recognize the stakes and prioritize the project’s success. Thankfully, they did, or at least they didn’t demand relocation during this critical period.
Living with Uncertainty
RTO didn’t occur in isolation. During this same period, Amazon implemented extensive cost-cutting measures, including layoffs, reorganizations, and the elimination of entire divisions. Leadership tried to keep these developments under wraps, but leaks surfaced—sometimes weeks in advance—on platforms like Blind. I thought AWS might be immune, but eventually, layoffs hit us too.
Most days, I carried on as if nothing had changed. But every so often, the reality blindsided me: “Why am I pouring my soul into this when my future here feels so uncertain?” For months, I worked with the nagging dread that I’d be forced to relocate or leave. That unease never fully went away. The lead-up to re:Invent 2023 was especially grueling. Long hours were spent racing to meet the release deadline, all while knowing the company could demand relocation the moment the dust settled. Fortunately, re:Invent came and went without that ultimatum. I exhaled with relief, having crossed the two-year mark and secured a brief window to plan my exit. In June 2024, I was gone.
I didn’t realize how much stress I was carrying until I left. The constant uncertainty—the questioning, the worrying—had taken its toll. After leaving, the fog lifted. I could breathe again. That clarity was a gift, and it reminded me of the importance of aligning work with the life I wanted to live.
Reflections on Amazon Culture
Despite everything, I truly enjoyed Amazon’s culture. The emphasis on ownership, the high standards, the energy—it was challenging, but rewarding. Amazon pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t expected, and I’ll always be grateful for that. If conditions were right—if remote work or local office options became feasible again—I’d absolutely consider returning.
For me, going into an office wasn’t the problem. The problem was relocation. There wasn’t an Amazon office near my home, and uprooting my family wasn’t on the table. If I were younger, childless, and more eager for adventure, I might have taken the leap. But that wasn’t my reality.
What’s Next for the Industry and AWS?
Amazon and AWS are not going anywhere. When the RTO announcement was originally made back in February 2023, the $AMZN stock price averaged under $100 for the month. As I write this, the price is around $230—higher than it has ever been. Since announcing RTO, Amazon has also implemented numerous cost-cutting measures such as layoffs and deprecations. Their business is becoming more focused (a good thing). While I still think eliminating remote work was the wrong decision, I hold no illusions that it will visibly harm Amazon’s trajectory.
Some might argue that Amazon will lose its best engineers and struggle to attract top talent because of this decision. However, this was likely an intentional calculation by leadership. Their conclusion appears to be that Amazon doesn’t necessarily need the most talented engineers—it needs diligent and driven ones. Historically, Amazon has never been regarded as the most employee-friendly company, and the removal of remote work has dispelled any lingering perceptions of it aspiring to be the world’s best employer.
Amazon’s move to implement RTO was a boon for the leadership of other companies across the industry. Before this shift, competing with the largest software engineering employer that embraced remote work posed a significant challenge. Now, that pressure has eased. Following Amazon’s lead, many companies have rolled out their own RTO policies with newfound confidence. However, companies still offering remote opportunities now have access to some of the best talent in the market.
Realistically, remote work isn’t going away, but there won’t be as many remote jobs available as there were during COVID. I do think there’s more available than there were pre-COVID.
For the Remaining Remote Workers at Amazon
The reality is that many people at Amazon are still working remotely. They’ve likely managed this due to fortunate circumstances or because their leaders have prioritized other concerns over enforcing RTO. A lucky few may have even secured long-term exceptions. However, my advice to those in this position is clear: most of you should start planning to either relocate or leave. Even if you manage to extend your remote arrangement for years, the trade-offs can be steep. You may feel like a second-class employee—excluded from opportunities for advancement. Promotions will likely be off the table, yet the effort you’ll need to exert will remain as demanding as if you were striving for one.
For most of you, this means exiting right after a vest date with another job lined up. Consider yourself fortunate (as I do) if you’re able to find a position with comparable compensation, but you might not find that.