Amazon is instructing corporate staffers to spend five days a week in the office, CEO Andy Jassy wrote in a memo on Monday. The decision marks a significant shift from Amazon's earlier return-to-work stance, which required corporate workers to be in the office at least three days a week. Now, the company is giving employees until Jan. 2 to start adhering to the new policy.

Corporate employees will be expected to be in the office five days a week "outside of extenuating circumstances" or unless they have been granted an exception by their organization's S-team leader, Jassy said, referring to the close-knit group of executives that report to Amazon's CEO.

"Before the pandemic, it was not a given that folks could work remotely two days a week, and that will also be true moving forward — our expectation is that people will be in the office outside of extenuating circumstances," Jassy said.

Amazon also plans to simplify its corporate structure by having fewer managers in order to "remove layers and flatten organizations," Jassy said. Each S-team organization will be expected to increase the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15% by the end of the first quarter of 2025, he said. Individual contributors refers to employees who typically do not manage other staffers.

It is unclear if the change will result in the elimination of some manager positions. An Amazon spokesperson did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

The company rapidly grew its headcount over the course of the pandemic before Jassy took the helm and instituted widespread cost cuts across Amazon, including the largest layoffs in its 27 years as a public company. Amazon's headcount totaled 1.53 million employees in the second quarter, representing growth of just 5% from a year earlier. By comparison, Amazon's workforce expanded 14% to 1.52 million employees in the second quarter of 2022.

Jassy wrote in a lengthy missive to staffers that Amazon is making the changes to strengthen its corporate culture and ensure that it remains nimble. He underscored the point by saying the company created a "bureaucracy mailbox," or dedicated email alias, to root out any unnecessary processes or excessive rules within the company.

"We want to operate like the world's largest startup," Jassy wrote. "That means having a passion for constantly inventing for customers, strong urgency (for most big opportunities, it's a race!), high ownership, fast decision-making, scrappiness and frugality, deeply-connected collaboration (you need to be joined at the hip with your teammates when inventing and solving hard problems), and a shared commitment to each other."

Amazon shares ticked lower in afternoon trading.

Amazon's Return-to-Office Policy: A Shift in Culture?

The announcement of Amazon's new return-to-office policy has been met with mixed reactions, with some employees expressing concerns about the shift in work-life balance and others welcoming the return to in-person collaboration. While Amazon has highlighted the importance of in-person interaction for fostering innovation and collaboration, some argue that remote work has proven to be an effective way to work for many employees.

Jassy has emphasized that the new policy is designed to "strengthen our culture" and ensure that Amazon operates like "the world's largest startup." He believes that in-person collaboration is essential for maintaining a strong and agile company culture, and he has cited several reasons for this, including improved learning, brainstorming, and innovation.

However, critics argue that the policy is a step back from the flexibility that many employees have come to appreciate. They point out that remote work can be more productive and efficient for some employees, and that the benefits of in-person collaboration can be achieved through other means, such as virtual meetings and team-building activities.

The Future of Work: A Hybrid Approach?

Amazon's new return-to-office policy raises broader questions about the future of work. Many companies are grappling with the issue of how to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility and efficiency of remote work.

The pandemic has accelerated the shift towards hybrid work models, and many companies are now offering employees the flexibility to work remotely, either part-time or full-time. However, the debate over the best approach to work continues, with some companies favoring in-person collaboration while others embrace remote work.

As companies continue to adapt to the evolving landscape of work, it is likely that we will see a wider range of approaches to remote work and hybrid work models. The future of work is likely to be characterized by flexibility and adaptability, with companies needing to find the right balance between in-person collaboration and remote work to achieve their goals.

Conclusion: A Return to the Office, But With Adjustments

Amazon's new return-to-office policy marks a significant shift in the company's approach to work. While the company has highlighted the importance of in-person collaboration, it has also made adjustments to its policy to accommodate employees' needs and individual circumstances.

Ultimately, the success of Amazon's new policy will depend on its ability to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility and efficiency of remote work. It will also need to find ways to ensure that employees feel comfortable and supported in returning to the office. Only time will tell whether Amazon's new policy will prove to be a successful approach to the future of work.