Business

Amazon Orders Workers to Relocate or Quit: Report

By Jake Beardslee · June 21, 2025

Amazon has instructed thousands of U.S.-based employees to either relocate to designated corporate hubs or leave the company, according to a report by Bloomberg. The move is part of a broader effort to centralize its workforce in cities like Seattle, Arlington, and Washington, D.C.

An Amazon spokesperson told Bloomberg that the relocation push has been ongoing “for more than a year now,” explaining that “some teams have been working to bring their teammates closer together to help them be as effective as possible.”

Rather than announce the requirement through mass communication, Amazon is reportedly notifying employees individually through one-on-one meetings and internal town halls. One employee revealed on an internal messaging platform that they were given 30 days to decide whether to relocate or resign, and an additional 60 days to act on that decision, according to Bloomberg. Employees who choose to leave will reportedly not receive severance pay.

This development adds to mounting pressure on Amazon’s workforce. Earlier this year, the company mandated a return to the office five days a week, prompting some employees to consider roles elsewhere. Meanwhile, Amazon continues to heavily invest in artificial intelligence. CEO Andy Jassy recently told staff he expects the company’s workforce to shrink “in the next few years” as AI automates more roles, according to Entrepreneur. Amazon has already begun using AI in its warehouse operations and customer service.

Despite recent cost-cutting measures—including more than 27,000 layoffs since 2022—Amazon plans to invest around $105 billion in capital expenditures this year, most of which will go toward AI.