**Amazon Web Services Employees Push Back Against CEO's Return-to-Office Policy**

Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman is facing significant criticism from employees regarding his comments on the company's return-to-office (RTO) policy. According to an open letter obtained by Business Insider, over 500 AWS employees expressed their dissatisfaction with Garman's remarks, which supported Amazon's new mandate requiring employees to work from the office five days a week, an increase from the previous three-day-a-week policy.

The letter, which was signed by 523 staff members from Amazon and AWS, was sent to Garman following a recent all-hands meeting. During this meeting, Garman stated that nine out of ten employees he had spoken to were eager to return to the office full time. He also suggested that employees who do not wish to comply with the new RTO mandate might find opportunities at other companies.

Employees were quick to challenge Garman's claim that most staff were excited about the policy change. The letter argued that forcing a five-day in-office requirement and dismissing the concerns of those who are unable to adhere to it would undermine the company's culture and future. Moreover, many employees felt Garman's comments did not reflect their own experiences, particularly regarding innovation, which he claimed was stifled when not working in person.

In response to the backlash, internal Slack messages showed a variety of employee sentiments. One staff member mentioned that Garman's statement did not resonate with them or their team, while another suggested that the CEO had gathered skewed feedback by selectively speaking to engineers at the AWS headquarters.

Amazon's more stringent office policy, set to take effect next year, has been perceived as tougher than those at peer companies and even stricter than its own pre-pandemic requirements. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy previously cited a need to "further strengthen" company culture and teams as the reason behind the mandate in a memo released in September.

While Amazon spokesperson Margaret Callahan noted that the company is offering resources such as elder care, pet sitters, caregiver referral services, and commuter benefits to ease the transition, the discontent among employees remains palpable. The letter, originating from an internal Slack channel with over 30,000 members, underscores the dissatisfaction and urges a reconsideration of the RTO mandate.

The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between management and employees over workplace policies in a post-pandemic world, as companies navigate balancing operational needs with employee preferences.