Amazon is rolling out stricter expense policies by requiring employees to report how much of their company-issued phone usage is work-related. The move directly impacts the $50 monthly reimbursement employees receive for mobile expenses, which will now be adjusted based on personal use.
The measure is part of CEO Andy Jassy’s ongoing “hardcore culture reset”, which has reshaped workplace policies at the tech giant since he succeeded Jeff Bezos. Business Insider’s investigation revealed that Amazon Web Services staff are now asked to break down phone usage between personal and professional activities, with reimbursements reduced proportionally for non-work usage.
This granular tracking reflects Amazon’s broader drive for frugality. Employees have also been told to justify business trips by outlining expected returns and to itemise meal expenses instead of claiming them under flat allowances. Jassy has consistently urged teams to think of company money as if it were their own, reinforcing cost discipline across all operations.
While Meta, Google, and Microsoft have raised performance expectations, Amazon has gone further by directly linking reimbursements to reported usage.
The policy has sparked unease among staff. Several employees expressed frustration, describing the system as micromanagement rather than efficiency. For many, company phones were viewed as a standard tool of employment rather than a benefit to be rationed.
Despite the backlash, Amazon has defended the move, stressing that frugality remains a core principle of its culture. By closely monitoring expenses, the company aims to reinforce accountability while navigating a more cautious economic environment.
