US High School Economics class: Amazon orders staff back to office 5 days a week

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Amazon orders staff back to office 5 days a week

Discussion Questions

• How does Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, justify the decision to bring employees back to the office full-time?

• Compare Amazon’s in-office work policy with that of other tech companies like Google. What does this reveal about the differences in business strategies among tech firms?

• How might Amazon’s return-to-office mandate impact its supply and demand for office space in its US buildings?

• What does Amazon’s “bureaucracy mailbox” initiative aim to achieve, and how does it reflect economic concepts like efficiency?

• How does Amazon’s reduction in middle management reflect the economic principle of diminishing returns?

• What does Amazon’s plan to reduce middle management and increase the ratio of “individual contributors” suggest about the company’s goals for productivity and decision-making processes? How might reducing the number of managers affect how quickly decisions are made and impact productivity?

Extended Learning

Read the article Working From Home: The Pros and Cons and answer the following questions.

• According to a 2013 study by Stanford University, what were some of the effects of working from home on productivity and career advancement?

• What advice is given for those considering working from home for the first time?

• The Pros: list and describe in your own words what you think are the top arguments for working from home

• The Cons: list and describe in your own words what you think are the best arguments against working from home

Conclusion

Your opinion: Given the varied approaches to in-office and remote work among tech companies, what might the future of work look like, and how should companies balance the need for flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration?

Joel Miller and James Redelsheimer, Foundation for Economic Education.
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