Amazon calls workers back 5 days a week—other companies may be 'right behind them,' expert says

New York (CNN Business)Amazon is requiring corporate employees in the United States to return to the office at least three days a week starting May 1, a major shift in its pandemic-era flexible work policy.

The e-commerce giant informed employees of the new policy in a memo Thursday, saying the decision was made after "careful consideration of feedback from our teams, customers, and partners."

Company spokesperson Kelly Nantel told CNN Business that the company believes "teams can work more effectively when they're able to collaborate in person."

The move comes as more companies grapple with how to handle remote work in the wake of the pandemic. Many companies have adopted hybrid work models, allowing employees to split their time between the office and home.

But Amazon is one of the first major companies to require employees to return to the office for a majority of the week.

Experts say Amazon's decision could be a sign that other companies may follow suit. "I think we're going to see a lot of other companies moving in this direction," said Brian Kropp, chief of research for Gartner's HR practice. "Companies are starting to realize that there are some real benefits to having employees in the office."

Kropp said that companies may be concerned about losing their culture and sense of community if employees are working remotely too often.

He also said that companies may be concerned about productivity. "There's a perception that people are less productive when they're working remotely," Kropp said. "Whether or not that's true is debatable, but it's a perception that some companies have."

Amazon's decision to require employees to return to the office is likely to be controversial. Some employees may be reluctant to return to the office full-time, especially if they have been enjoying the flexibility of working from home.

But Amazon is betting that the benefits of in-person collaboration outweigh the drawbacks.

Only time will tell if other companies will follow Amazon's lead and require employees to return to the office more often.