Amazon’s ‘Quiet Firing’: Tech giant asks managers to rate employees' performance lower, block promotions

Amazon is allegedly instructing managers to assign lower performance ratings to employees who do not comply with the Return to Office (RTO) policy, and reports from Business Insider suggest that the e-commerce giant is taking extreme measures, such as blocking promotions, for those not meeting stringent in-office attendance criteria. Sources within the company reveal that some Amazon employees suspect the strict return-to-office policy is part of a broader strategy resembling a “quiet firing” plan. The narrative suggests that Amazon is intentionally creating challenging conditions, prompting employees to leave voluntarily and thereby allowing the company to cut costs without resorting to overt terminations. The controversy originated in early 2023 when Amazon initiated a push for most staff to return to the office at least three days a week. Subsequently, in July, the company implemented a “return-to-hub” policy, designating central locations for individual teams. Employees failing to comply are expected to find another team or face a “voluntary resignation,” treating non-compliance as a self-initiated departure. The recent report from Business Insider alleges that managers are under pressure to provide low-performance ratings to employees not adhering to the attendance policy, following Amazon’s earlier decision to block promotions for similar reasons. An Amazon spokesperson responded to the allegations, stating, “Promotions are one of the many ways we support employees’ growth and development, and there are a variety of factors we consider when determining an employee’s readiness for the next level.” The spokesperson emphasized that compliance with company guidelines and policies is an expected criterion for promotion consideration. In response to the controversial return-to-hub policy, some Amazon employees have publicly announced their resignations on communication platforms like Slack. Dissatisfaction is evident among some employees, with one expressing discontent, stating, “The lack of basic human respect leadership has shown with the layoffs and forced RTO is completely unacceptable,” as per Business Insider’s report. Amazon defended its decision, with the spokesperson explaining, “In February last year we shared with employees that we’d be asking them to start coming into the office three or more times a week beginning in May because we believe it would yield the best long-term results for our customers, business, and culture.” Despite internal dissent and external criticism, the company appears steadfast in its commitment to the vision outlined.