Hundreds of Amazon employees participated in a walkout on Wednesday, protesting the company's return-to-office mandate, recent layoffs, and perceived weakening of its climate commitments.
Employees expressed concerns about low morale and distrust in leadership. Organizers estimated 1,000 participants in Seattle and over 2,000 globally, though Amazon reported approximately 300.
Amazon stated its commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and 100% renewable energy by 2025, attributing the removal of a specific shipping emissions goal to being superseded by the broader Climate Pledge. However, employees remain skeptical about the company's true priorities.
Employees highlighted the removal of a previously stated goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions for half of its shipments by 2030, raising concerns about the company's commitment to sustainability. Many also expressed frustration over the rejected employee petition to reverse the return-to-office mandate.
The walkout reflects significant employee dissatisfaction, with a Slack channel discussing return-to-office issues boasting over 33,000 members. The event underscores the tension between corporate goals, employee well-being, and climate action within a large corporation.