More than 1,000 Amazon employees have protested against the company’s demand to bring back compulsory attendance in offices, BBC News reports. The action was organized by employee advocacy groups.

Amazon said it respected workers’ rights to express their views.

Before the protest began, organizers said about 2,000 people had pledged to take part.

“Our goal is to change Amazon’s cost/benefit analysis on making harmful, unilateral decisions that are having an outsized impact on people of colour, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable people,”

said the protesters.

Amazon is currently looking to cut costs, partly in response to economic uncertainty that has slowed sales in many parts of the company, including its e-commerce and cloud computing divisions.

Since January, the company has announced 27,000 layoffs and reduced investment in many areas.

The company ordered employees to work in the office at least three times a week starting in May, saying it would improve communication and the company’s culture.

They accused the company of not accounting well enough for its carbon footprint, pointing to a report that said Amazon only takes into account Amazon-branded products in its calculations.

Company spokesman Brad Glaser said the firm “has always listened and will continue to do so, but we’re pleased with the way the first month has gone, with more people back in the office”.

He also said Amazon continues to strive to meet its 2019 commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040 and is on track to rely entirely on renewables by 2025.