“If your people are going to schlep to work only to do work they could have done from home (all while fighting for an actual seat at the office) do they really need to come into the office? Or can you instead plan ahead for the time people are gathered together IRL, and have them move work forward in a way that can only be done in person?” commented future of work expert Erica Keswin in a LinkedIn post addressing the space crunch for returning Amazon employees.

“The arguments for in-person communication and collaboration are valid, but so too are the arguments for remote work which allows people to avoid wasted commuting time and to generally feel more balanced,” said Sue Keith, corporate VP at Landrum Talent, in another LinkedIn comment.

The overwhelming majority of employees had dedicated workspaces when they returned to the office full time on January 2, an Amazon spokesperson told BenefitsPro. Some employees may be returning on different timelines and have received direct communication in those situations.

“Of the hundreds of offices we have all around the world, there are only a relatively small number that were not quite ready to welcome everyone back five days a week,” the company said in a statement. “We’re excited by the innovation, collaboration and connection that we've seen already with our teams working in person together. With most employees working from the office each day, teams across the company are focused on ensuring the transition is as smooth as possible as we continue to deliver for customers.”

Related: Federal RTO order reignites office attendance debate

In response to employee complaints about the RTO mandate announcement last year, AWS CEO Matt Garman told employees they were free to find a new job if they were unhappy with the requirement. That sentiment is similar to JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s comments last week during what has been described as a combative staff meeting. Dimon told employees they shouldn’t waste time opposing the company’s five-day in-office work requirement. The scolding came in the wake of an employee petition asking Dimon to reconsider the policy.

According to a Reuters article, Dimon said too many employees did not pay attention during virtual meetings while working remotely and that the abuse that took place was “extraordinary.” Some employees, however, questioned the need to spend more time in the office as the company posted strong 2024 performance with record profits and doubled share prices.

“When corporate leaders, like Jamie Dimon, make sweeping declarations about ending remote work, I wonder if they've considered the human cost,” said Ashley Graef, an executive ghostwriter who began a consulting position at the firm last month with the promise of hybrid work. “Do these mandates come with provisions for childcare expenses? Transportation costs? Additional paid leave for family emergencies? The privilege of making such unilateral decisions affecting thousands of lives carries with it a responsibility to consider their real-world implications.”