North Raleigh Today

Kalp Joshi, the Human Resources manager at Amazon's RDU1 Fulfillment Center, said that the company's open-door HR policy was implemented to foster "transparency, trust, and open communication," but emphasized that "it’s about presence." Joshi made this statement to North Raleigh Today on February 10.

"At Amazon, our commitment to a workplace culture built on transparency, trust, and open communication goes beyond policies—it's about presence," said Joshi, HR Manager at Amazon’s fulfillment center in Garner. "That's why we began positioning HR in high-traffic areas at our Raleigh, NC locations. This isn't just about accessibility; it's about being a visible, approachable part of the daily work environment. By having HR in these central locations, we're able to connect with employees in real time, listen actively, and address concerns as they arise."

At Amazon, which employs over 24,000 people in North Carolina, the company has an "open-door" policy that encourages staff to discuss suggestions or concerns with any management level, starting with immediate supervisors. According to its policy resource document, "We have an 'open door' policy, which means that you are welcome to discuss any suggestion, concern, or other feedback with any member of the company’s management." At the RDU1 Fulfillment Center, HR is strategically located between the building entrance and the break room for accessibility and visibility while remaining separate from the main work area.

According to Paychex, an open-door policy in the workplace empowers employees to communicate job-related topics or issues with leaders or immediate supervisors. It typically refers to a workplace culture where managers are open to listening to anything employees want to discuss, possibly at designated times throughout the workweek. An effective open-door policy encourages collaboration, transparency, and respect between employees and management. Implementing such a policy can lead to improved communication across all business levels and help resolve issues between supervisors and team members before they escalate. Without an open-door policy, managers may become disconnected from their teams.

Workplaces with open-door HR policies see a notable increase in employee engagement and satisfaction. According to Vantage Circle, such policies foster a culture of transparency by allowing for early issue detection and improved communication. This enhances overall workplace morale and productivity.

While open-door HR policies promote direct communication, unionized environments often rely on formal grievance procedures that can slow issue resolution. The Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR) notes that this structured approach may discourage employees from addressing concerns informally with HR, potentially delaying problem-solving.

Joshi is identified as the HR manager at Amazon's RDU1 Fulfillment Center in Garner, North Carolina.