This week, Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, gained attention for clearly expressing his views about the company’s policy of requiring employees to work in the office five days a week.

“For individuals who feel they cannot work effectively in that setting and choose not to, that’s completely understandable—there are other companies out there,” Garman stated. “And just to be clear, I don’t mean that negatively; we want to foster an environment where collaboration happens.”

His comments were made during an AWS gathering on Thursday, as reported by Reuters.

Amazon has recently rolled out a return-to-office policy

This statement comes shortly after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy revealed that staff would need to shift from a three-day in-office routine to working five days a week.

Before Jassy’s announcement in September, employees had been working in the office three days a week, which, according to him, significantly benefited the company. He also mentioned plans to reintroduce “assigned desk arrangements” in formerly organized settings.

Regarding the current three-day policy, Garman remarked, “We didn’t really achieve much; it wasn’t an effective collaboration, and we missed out on learning from each other.”

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During the Thursday gathering, Garman noted that nine out of ten employees he spoke to support the new requirement, emphasizing that innovation cannot thrive without in-person collaboration, according to Reuters.

Amazon CEO addressed return-to-office requirements last month

“Our team members find it easier to learn, develop skills, and strengthen our company’s culture when collaborating in person,” Jassy explained. “Modes of collaboration, brainstorming, and inventing become more direct and effective, while teaching and learning are more fluid, resulting in stronger team connections.”

Jassy also acknowledged that the transition back to a full-time office presence may prove difficult for some staff, hence giving them until January 2, 2025, to adapt.

He expressed that AWS aims to operate like “the world’s largest startup,” emphasizing the need for close teamwork when grappling with challenges and inventing solutions.

Surveys indicate some Amazon employees have left due to the office policy

Garman, who mentioned that employees opposed to the policy could seek employment elsewhere, conveyed his enthusiasm for the new rules but recognized that his views are not universally shared, as reported by Reuters.

Indeed, 91% of Amazon employees, according to a recent survey conducted by the anonymous app Blind, expressed their disapproval of the decision to revert to full-time in-office work. The survey included 2,585 verified Amazon employees taken the day after the policy announcement.

The survey posed questions such as:

1. Are you satisfied with Andy Jassy’s decision to require that you work in-office five days a week starting in January 2025?
2. Are you considering searching for a different job due to the in-office policy?
3. Do you know anyone at Amazon who is looking for another job because of the in-office policy?
4. Do you know anyone who has already quit because of the recently announced in-office policy?

Among the respondents, 73% indicated they are actively looking for new jobs due to the new policy. Additionally, 80% reported knowing someone contemplating a job change because of it.

As for those who have already resigned, 32% mentioned they are aware of someone who has quit because of the change in policy.

This article has been revised.