### Amazon’s Top Executive Defends Controversial 5-Day In-Office Policy

Amazon Web Services (AWS) unit CEO Matt Garman has spoken out in favor of Amazon's new five-day-per-week in-office policy, despite backlash from employees. Addressing the issue at an all-hands meeting, Garman made it clear that those opposed to the policy should consider employment elsewhere. He noted that nine out of ten workers he has spoken with support the move, set to take effect in January, according to a transcript reviewed by Reuters.

Garman emphasized the importance of being physically present in the office to foster innovation and teamwork. "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," he explained. He acknowledged that some employees might not thrive in this environment and suggested they might be better suited to other companies.

The new five-day requirement marks a shift from Amazon's existing three-day in-office policy. This change has already caused discontent among many employees who argue that commuting is a waste of time and that the claimed benefits of office work lack empirical support. CEO Andy Jassy had announced last month that the new policy was essential for fostering invention, collaboration, and connection.

Employees who did not comply with the three-day mandate have faced severe consequences. Some were told they were "voluntarily resigning" and found themselves locked out of company systems. As the world's second-largest private employer, Amazon's strict stance contrasts with that of other tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, which maintain more flexible two- to three-day in-office policies.

Reflecting on the three-day policy, Garman noted it was inadequate for achieving the company's goals. He mentioned that employees often came in on different days, which hampered their ability to work closely and learn from each other. He also highlighted the difficulty of adhering to Amazon's leadership principles under a remote work model, particularly the "disagree and commit" principle. Garman found it challenging to express disagreement effectively through remote communication tools like Chime.

In conclusion, while Garman expressed excitement about the new policy, he acknowledged that not everyone shares his enthusiasm. However, he believes that being together in an office environment is crucial for Amazon to achieve its ambitious goals.