Amazon is telling many of its U.S.-based employees they must move to one of the company’s main office hubs or leave their job. According to Bloomberg, this decision impacts thousands of workers and has been quietly in progress for over a year. Affected staff are being asked to shift to key locations such as Seattle, Arlington, or Washington, D.C.
An Amazon spokesperson explained the goal is to bring team members closer together to improve how they work. Amazon has over 1.5 million employees globally, including about 350,000 corporate workers. This relocation requirement is part of its broader strategy to centralize workforces for better efficiency.
No Mass Emails
Unlike previous policy updates, Amazon is not using emails to inform staff. Instead, managers are delivering the news in one-on-one meetings or internal town halls. Some employees have shared internally that they were given 30 days to decide whether to relocate or resign. If they choose to leave, they are given 60 more days to exit, but they will not get any severance pay.
For many, this means moving across the country with short notice and little support. The policy has added to employee concerns during a time when job security at Amazon already feels uncertain. Earlier this year, Amazon also brought back mandatory in-office work five days a week, leading some workers to look elsewhere for jobs that offer remote options.
AI Changes Workplace
Amazon is also preparing for big changes in how work is done. CEO Andy Jassy recently told employees that as the company continues to invest in artificial intelligence (AI), it expects fewer human workers in the future. This message has raised more fears about layoffs, especially since the company has already cut over 27,000 jobs since 2022.
Amazon is spending around $105 billion this year, most of which will go into expanding its AI capabilities. AI is already used in Amazon’s warehouses and customer support tools to speed up services and reduce human workload. As AI becomes more central to Amazon’s operations, the company is reshaping its workforce to match its long-term goals.
Future Remains Unclear
While Amazon continues to lead in e-commerce and tech innovation, the company’s recent decisions are creating a tough environment for employees. Between forced moves, growing AI influence, and past layoffs, many are unsure what the future holds.
