New England Biz Law Update
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a complaint against Amazon.com Services, LLC, alleging the company violated labor laws in response to an employee-led walkout.
In February 2023, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that corporate employees would be required to return to the office at least three days a week starting May 1. That decision, reversing the company’s previous remote work policies, met with significant resistance from many employees.
Thousands of Amazon employees signed petitions against the return-to-office mandate. And on May 31, 2023, an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 Amazon employees participated in an hour-long walkout.
Afterwards, according to the NLRB complaint, Amazon allegedly took retaliatory actions against one of the walkout organizers, including:
- Interrogating the employee about their role in organizing the walkout
- Putting the employee on a performance improvement plan
- Offering a severance package in exchange for resignation
The NLRB alleges that these actions were taken because of the employee’s involvement in protected concerted activities and to discourage other employees from engaging in similar actions.
The complaint accuses Amazon of interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed by the National Labor Relations Act.
As part of the proposed remedy, the NLRB is seeking an order for Amazon to:
- Compensate the employee, including for consequential damages
- Post notices about the case at all Amazon facilities nationwide
- Hold a videoconference to read the notice to employees
- Write a letter of apology to the employee
Amazon has filed a formal response to the complaint, denying the allegations. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 4, 2025, unless a settlement is reached before then.
