Amazon plans to move some of its corporate employees working remotely or in smaller offices to the eCommerce giant’s hub locations in major cities. 

In a seeming effort to bring employees back in person, managers have reportedly told some employees they may have to relocate to main business locations, according to several media reports. This follows a push earlier this year to require employees to work out of physical locations three days a week.

The number of Amazon employees that will be impacted by this relocation practice has not been released. 

Why Is Amazon Relocating Workers to “Hub” Locations?

The Wall Street Journal reported that “some have speculated that the return to office rules are another way to thin out Amazon’s workforce since it will cause a certain amount of voluntary resignations.”

Notably, Amazon cut 27,000 jobs earlier this year.

But in prepared statement published by The Wall Journal and AP, Amazon spokesman Brad Glasser said the move is to boost collaboration and connection.

“There’s more energy, collaboration, and connections happening since we’ve been working together at least three days per week, and we’ve heard this from lots of employees and the businesses that surround our offices. We continue to look at the best ways to bring more teams together in the same locations, and we’ll communicate directly with employees as we make decisions that affect them.”