What's behind Amazon's return-to-office mandate | Study: US labor shortage could hit 6M by 2032 | Boss walking all over you? Time to "unboss" your company
In a departure from the tech industry, Amazon is requiring its corporate staff to work daily in the office, a move that has sparked concerns over longer commutes and lost productivity. The company says the decision is essential to sustain its culture and agility, but workers fear it may lead to quiet layoffs.
US employers are projected to face a shortage of 6 million workers by 2032, driven by retirements, job mismatches and declining workforce participation among men, according to labor market data provider Lightcast. The study highlights that older workers are no longer expanding the job market, with four out of five of the 5 million workers who left the workforce since 2020 being over 55.
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The UN's International Equal Pay Day calls attention to the global gender pay gap, which averages 20%. Maureen Maldari, CEO of The BAM Connection marketing agency, recounts facing gender bias and describes how her agency champions gender equity and mentorship. "The formal mentorship seems to be a lost art and that's a shame because I know when I spend time with our millennial and Generation Z staff, they appreciate different perspectives," Maldari says.
Indiana leaders have unveiled an apprenticeship pathway to help high-school students gain work-based learning and career skills to address the state's workforce shortages. Modeled after a system in Switzerland in which the majority of 16- to 18-year-old students take part in apprenticeships, the program in Indiana aims to serve 50,000 learners by 2034 to offer an alternative to college while preparing young people for in-demand careers.
HR is still spending nearly 70% of its time on operational and administrative tasks at a time business partnerships and talent management should be top priorities, write Spencer Stuart consultants, who recommend an updated HR model focused on agile teams, employee experience, business enablement and people solutions. "Now is the time to formally break down the silos created by traditional structures so that HR can improve organizational effectiveness by delivering end-to-end solutions for the business," they write.
I wondered when Amazon would buckle. I had a feeling that the tech and retail giant would eventually call its non-warehouse workers back to the office, full time.
Looks like they have, according to our top story today. Starting January, employees will have to return to their assigned cubicle every weekday. Most workers have been on a 3-days-in, 2-days-home hybrid schedule.
And no surprise, other companies are watching. If Amazon pulls this off successfully -- and I haven’t seen a reason to think it won’t -- other organizations will want to replicate its efforts. Those efforts will include monitoring and policing workers. It will include someone -- or some people -- to be responsible for tracking badge swipes.
I’m trying to understand the logic behind the move. My experience has taught me that all decisions revolve around money. The company is also “restructuring” to be more “nimble.” This office mandate seems to follow this strategy. If folks are in the office, managers can ensure they are aligned with new goals and moving with change -- that they are not becoming complacent or as Jeff Bezos puts it, “stasis.”
What do you think of Amazon’s move? Do you think their policy will help swing the trend of office mandates in employers’ direction? Drop me a line and let me know.
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