Amazon Hits Pause on Office Construction in Tennessee, Washington State As Workers Go Hybrid

Some firms try to make their workplaces extra interesting and collaborative for workers, notably those that choose working remotely greater than two years into the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Like many firms, we’re nonetheless studying how these new habits might affect our workplace footprint,” mentioned

John Schoettler,

Amazon’s vice chairman of worldwide actual property and services.

Amazon mentioned that the pause would begin after development is completed on the buildings’ foyer areas and exteriors. 

The corporate didn’t disclose a timeline for the method, which might have an effect on certainly one of its two towers in Nashville and 5 buildings on its campus in Bellevue, Wash.

In 2018, Amazon introduced that it might create an operations heart in Nashville with 5,000 high-paying jobs. Amazon mentioned Friday that these jobs—and the 25,000 positions it beforehand pledged to create in Bellevue—wouldn’t be affected by the development pause.

The pandemic has upended company life over the previous few years, with many staff having fun with the luxuries that come from working at house. They have been in a position to keep away from their outdated commutes and keep away from giant gatherings. Many employers have adopted hybrid-work schedules, and fewer than half the variety of prepandemic workplace staff are returning to enterprise districts persistently.

Some firms have realized that they should redraw their workplaces to enchantment to staff. In New York, for instance, the consulting agency

Accenture PLC

opened a brand new innovation house with an outside terrace and sweeping views that it hopes will draw staff again.

Write to Alyssa Lukpat at alyssa.lukpat@wsj.com