This seems totally unnecessary and done solely for political reasons.

Anonymous wrote:More than one of my friends are in software engineering management roles over there. They have been complaining about productivity issues related to people not being in person for a while now. Real product development that is of any quality isn’t done completely siloed. Sole exceptions for things like Linux kernel development, where distributed teams of people who are highly interested get the work done, and they are all afraid of Linus calling them out anyways.

My husband complains that it’s because half the people are idiots. Doesn’t have much to do with RTO.

However, it is going to affect the good people who were hired remote, then told they had to come in 3 days a week and are doing crazy commutes from hours away and now will either have to move or lose their jobs.

We had to get an apartment and spend a lot of money so he can go in 3 days a week or drive 2 days each way 3 days a week. He’s been looking for something else for over a year and a half now but at his level it’s not easy. Now maybe we just sell our house except the COL is crazy higher in Arlington.

The truth is that star performers in tech have options, that’s how top companies are retaining talent.

Sure, everyone can’t be a star performer or be in top 10%, so it blows for those folks. Amazon has always been a company that believes in tremendous micromanaging, that is one of the core beliefs of Jeff Bezos.

But make no mistake, they will lose on top of the line talent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About time, not just for Amazon, but the entire country. RTO has taken a ridiculous amount of time to implement, and finally employers are turning the screw.

Agree. It’s so valuable for me to spend 2 hours commuting to sit in a conference room on teams calls with people in other cities.

My spouse will just be working less with the commute or calls to the west coast will have to be phone while driving. They have one day a week now and sit next to each other virtually on team calls.

Please don't do calls while driving. It is distracted driving, even hands-free. Block off the commute time.

Sorry RTO fans, but we were willing to accommodate many timezones WFO but now with RTO you have a very narrow window for meetings each day. Just won't get as much done. Sadness.

More than one of my friends are in software engineering management roles over there. They have been complaining about productivity issues related to people not being in person for a while now. Real product development that is of any quality isn’t done completely siloed. Sole exceptions for things like Linux kernel development, where distributed teams of people who are highly interested get the work done, and they are all afraid of Linus calling them out anyways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About time, not just for Amazon, but the entire country. RTO has taken a ridiculous amount of time to implement, and finally employers are turning the screw.

Agree. It’s so valuable for me to spend 2 hours commuting to sit in a conference room on teams calls with people in other cities.

Anonymous wrote:i think the thing that grates people here and grates boomers ('grinds their gears') is people have a choice now. These engineers are in HIGH demand and they can beyond easily tell amazon to go f itself and go elsewhere and they will bc half of them are socially awkward introverts who do not need to be schlepping on a commute to travel to sit next to other socially awkward introverts coding in silence except for during sprints.
they just want attrition.

Have you talked to other people who were laid off from tech firms. I know of a handful of people all laid off 6-14 months ago and none of them have jobs. None! They all have excellent resumes (except one who is applying for senior roles and should be applying middle manager) and connections but so many people are out from other tech firms, companies have their pick and don’t have to pay top dollar for you anymore.

Anonymous wrote:So dumb. I’m in the office 3 days a week and I probably have in person meetings only 1 of those 3 days. I’m answering emails and doing my work alone in my office the other 2 days. I could be doing that at home

RTO is just an excuse to 1)lay off people and 2)minimize real estate losses

+1

It in-office work mattered they wouldn’t need to track badge swipes. You wouldn’t be able to do your job as well if you worked remotely. Except that’s not the case and the only metrics they have are badge swipes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About time, not just for Amazon, but the entire country. RTO has taken a ridiculous amount of time to implement, and finally employers are turning the screw.

Agree. It’s so valuable for me to spend 2 hours commuting to sit in a conference room on teams calls with people in other cities.

You do know you can move.

Still doesn’t change that I’ll be spending time getting ready and commuting to not have any in-person meetings or interactions.

On call weeks just got harder...up 5 times last night? No matter, up and out of bed, get dressed and head in.

I assume that coming in will still mostly mean badging in for coffee and going home?

So dumb. I’m in the office 3 days a week and I probably have in person meetings only 1 of those 3 days. I’m answering emails and doing my work alone in my office the other 2 days. I could be doing that at home

RTO is just an excuse to 1)lay off people and 2)minimize real estate losses

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just announced: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/ceo-andy-jassy-latest-update-on-amazon-return-to-office-manager-team-ratio

Anyone here at HQ2 not happy?

OP is your role tied to HQ2? Is your specific team actually going to impacted by this? Our team is not (most of the roles on our team technically tied to HQ2).

I don't work for Amazon but a close family member does and, yes, this will impact their team (currently all required to go in 3 days/week and it's enforced).

Wow. Sorry to hear that. We also got the 3 days /week announcement but no one on my team impacted. People come in as they please. The average for 90 percent of the team is 1-2 times a week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WOW!

Amazon: "Merry Christmas and happy new year! GET BACK TO THE OFFICE 5 DAYS A WEEK NOW!"

Love that we have to pay tolls.

???????

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About time, not just for Amazon, but the entire country. RTO has taken a ridiculous amount of time to implement, and finally employers are turning the screw.

Agree. It’s so valuable for me to spend 2 hours commuting to sit in a conference room on teams calls with people in other cities.

You do know you can move.