Tens of thousands of Amazon workers are returning to in-person work in Washington

Monday was the first day back to work in person for 50,000 Amazon workers in Seattle.

The return of employees to work was expected to affect traffic in the city after many of them switched to remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The nearby city of Bellevue is also preparing to welcome 12,000 Amazon workers to their offices there. Fox 13 reported.

The return-to-work mandate was announced last September by CEO Andy Jassy, ​​who linked the new five-day requirement to Amazon’s efforts to be “better equipped to innovate, collaborate, and connect adequately with each other and with our culture to deliver services.” Absolutely the best for customers and business.”

The tech giant had previously moved from remote work to a mandatory three-day week in the office in May last year, and implemented some other changes.

Amazon Employees Send Angry Letter Over Return-to-Office Policy; Management is constant

In the month following the announcement of full-time employment in the office, the number reached more than 500 employees Amazon employees He sent a letter to Matt Jarman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), urging a reversal of the mandate and challenging his recent statement that the policy has “broad support” among employees.

The letter included personal stories from dozens of employees, who cited family commitments, medical needs and long commute times as barriers to adherence to the policy. One worker reported that he needed a four-hour commute to the nearest office, while another indicated that his wife would need to leave her job if they wanted to move elsewhere.

Amazon for Employees: Personally, a 5-day work week begins next year

Many employees He argued that remote work was productive and that commuting added unnecessary time and expense. Amazon enforces this policy by requiring employees to either report to regional offices, move to Seattle, or “voluntarily resign” if they cannot comply.

Amazon noted to FOX Business that the company realizes this may be a transition for some employees, which is why it shares these guidelines well before employees are expected to work from the office.

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In addition, Amazon says they offer “A number of resources” for employees depending on location, which includes access to senior care options and pet sitters.

Amazon also said in a statement that it can also provide employees with financed or reimbursable public transportation, free commuter shuttles, subsidized monthly parking rates and several more sustainable mobility assistance options.

FOX Business’ Jasmine Beyer and Aislinn Murphy contributed to this report.