Prime Video Criticized for ‘The Office’ Trailer After Amazon’s Return-To-Office Mandate: Prime Video is under fire after releasing a trailer for its remake of ‘The Office,’ which includes a joke about return-to-office (RTO) mandates. The timing of the trailer has sparked outrage among Amazon employees and social media users alike, especially after Amazon’s recent internal push to reinforce its RTO policy.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently doubled down on the company’s return-to-office mandate in an internal memo, insisting that the office culture before the pandemic should be reinstated. Jassy’s message stressed that while remote work would still be possible in cases of illness, emergencies, or other special situations, the norm would require employees to work from the office unless they had an approved Remote Work Exception.
Social Media Reactions
The release of the trailer, featuring a joke about the widely debated RTO mandates, quickly ignited backlash on social media. One user voiced the collective frustration, stating, “Amazon dropping a trailer for a remake of ‘The Office’ about mandatory RTO — we are so cooked.”
Another user sarcastically remarked, “Joke about how much RTO sucks on a show broadcast on Amazon,” highlighting the perceived disconnect between the show’s content and the company’s ongoing office policies.
Many urged Prime Video to reconsider the timing and message of the trailer, with comments like, “Dear Prime, it’s not too late to delete this.” The criticisms were not just about the trailer itself but also reflected broader discontent among employees and viewers who felt the joke was insensitive, given the current work environment dynamics at Amazon.
A New Twist in ‘The Office’ Remake
Prime Video’s remake of ‘The Office,’ set on its Australia platform, introduces a fresh twist by featuring a female boss, distinguishing it from the versions popularized in the UK and the US. However, despite this new angle, the show has landed in hot water with the RTO joke, which many felt was poorly timed and out of touch with current sentiments.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the trailer underscores the ongoing tension between companies and employees over return-to-office mandates. As Amazon continues to enforce its RTO policy, this incident serves as a reminder of how sensitive these issues remain in the post-pandemic workplace. Prime Video’s attempt at humor has instead highlighted the ongoing challenges of navigating the evolving landscape of work culture.