An expert predicts that other companies may follow Amazon's lead and bring workers back five days a week.

Amazon has mandated a full return to in-person work post-pandemic.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced in a memo to employees on Monday that starting Jan. 2, corporate staffers will be required to be in the office five days a week, unless they have extenuating circumstances or have been granted an exception by their manager.

Amazon has changed its policy, allowing employees to work remotely full-time instead of badging in three days a week.

Jassy stated in his memo that Amazon has observed that employees can more easily "learn, model, practice, and strengthen" the company's culture and brainstorm when they work together in person. He added that the last 15 months of being back in the office at least three days a week has only strengthened their conviction about the benefits.

Since the announcement, there has been an influx of anxious workers on LinkedIn and other platforms expressing concern about whether their companies would follow suit and eliminate flexible work arrangements.

Amazon's peers may 'move in lockstep'

According to Dan Kaplan, a senior client partner at Korn Ferry, Amazon's move may prompt other companies to implement stricter in-office requirements for employees by the end of 2024.

"Business leaders typically consult their peers before taking a bold stance on return-to-office policies, and announcements like this often prompt others to follow suit."

In recent months, Amazon, along with other companies such as Citigroup, Walmart, and UPS, has implemented stricter return-to-office policies.

Despite mandates, desk workers have not resumed their commutes. According to Kastle Systems, offices in the U.S. were only about half full during the first week of September, compared to pre-pandemic levels.

'Large tech companies' employees will be most affected by this announcement.'

Most organizations will continue to follow the post-pandemic norm of working two to three days in the office, according to workplace experts.

Recent data from Flex Index shows that only one-third (33%) of U.S. companies mandate employees to be in the office five days a week. Under 10% of tech companies with over 1,000 employees have this requirement.

For months, Brian Elliott, an executive advisor on workplace flexibility, has maintained that the idea of working five days a week in the office is obsolete, even before Amazon made its announcement.

"Amazon's lead may inspire other smaller tech companies to adopt a similar approach, but most will likely maintain a hybrid arrangement," he remarks. "Implementing a top-down, one-size-fits-all office policy can result in significant employee dissatisfaction."

Kaplan predicts that only tech, financial services, and retail industries will continue to advocate for a complete return to the office. Leaders in these sectors are the most ardent in asserting that remote work poses security risks and are more likely to invest in commercial real estate.

Elliott advises workers in other industries not to worry too much about losing job flexibility due to Amazon's announcement.

"The announcement will have the most significant impact on employees at large tech companies, but it won't result in a sudden surge of 5-day mandates. Instead, we can expect big tech companies to become stricter in requiring their workers to come in 2-3 days a week, using badge-tracking or linking in-office attendance to performance and salary reviews."

Flight risks and other dangers of RTO mandates

High-performing employees, particularly women and millennials, may be at risk of leaving Amazon if the company implements stricter RTO mandates, according to Elliott.

Stricter office attendance policies could hinder Amazon's ability to attract a more diverse pool of candidates, as research indicates that women, people of color, and those with disabilities are more likely to prefer remote work.

Kathy Kacher, a consultant who advises corporate executives on their RTO plans, states that most companies prioritize "smaller, more attainable victories" when it comes to in-person work.

"Leaders have come to accept that we may not return to pre-pandemic norms, as efforts to enforce in-office attendance have been unsuccessful in the past," she explains. "For many years, leaders have been fighting the RTO battle, but as long as their profits and productivity remain strong, they are not willing to make RTO a defining issue."

Sign up for CNBC's online course to master your money this fall. Our practical strategies will help you hack your budget, reduce your debt, and grow your wealth. Start today to feel more confident and successful. Use code EARLYBIRD for a 30% introductory discount, extended through September 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season.

Sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to receive tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.