When the pandemic required nearly everyone to stay at home in 2020, the business world seemed to embrace remote work as a potential savior of productivity. Tech companies were especially quick to implement tools like videoconferencing and cloud computing that let employees work from anywhere. But all that’s changing as more companies start to require staffers to either spend more time in the office or else find a new job. The return-to-office trend sets up a potential culture clash with many employees who have gotten used to the perks of remote work. Plus, those who do go back to the office are frequently running into a new problem: there isn’t enough room for everyone to have a place to work.

For example, since 2023 the e-commerce giant Amazon has required employees to spend at least three days per week at the office. This year, however, the company ended remote work altogether and will instead require all corporate employees to come into the office five days a week. The announcement impacts 350,000 employees in dozens of cities around the U.S., although the company expects many will quit rather than return. “If it’s not for you, then that’s OK. You can go and find another company if you want to,” said Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman. 

But when Amazon employees returned to the office full-time this year, many discovered there wasn’t enough room for everyone to fit. The sudden space crunch means employees struggle to find a place to park, a chair to sit in, or even room to make calls. In San Francisco, there are 800 more people than there are desks. In Austin, the parking garage only has 900 spots for 2,000 people. In Atlanta, Houston, and New York City, Amazon postponed the return-to-office mandate because office buildings weren’t complete. So far, though, there’s no sign that the lack of space will cause Amazon to make any change to its new return-to-office rule. 

Questions:

1. Why did many companies adopt remote work policies during the pandemic? 
2. What problems has Amazon encountered in its effort to bring all corporate employees back to the office? Do you think these issues could make them reconsider their remote work policies? 

Source: Katherine Bindley and Preetika Rana, “Inside Amazon’s Messy Push to Bring Everyone Back to the Office,” The Wall Street Journal, February 13, 2025.