Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman has defended the company's new five-day in-office work policy, telling employees at an all-hands meeting that those who do not support the mandate can seek employment elsewhere. This policy shift, set to start in January 2024, has sparked criticism from some employees who argue that the benefits of working from the office are not corroborated by independent studies and that commuting is time-consuming. Garman insists that being physically present is crucial for innovation and collaboration, echoing CEO Andy Jassy's previous statements about the need for in-person work to 'invent, collaborate, and be connected'. This marks a significant departure from the pandemic-era remote work flexibility, with Amazon taking a stricter stance compared to other tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft. The stringent policy has led to tensions, with reports of employees being locked out of company systems if they fail to comply. Despite the backlash, Garman claims that most workers support the return-to-office initiative.