While Apple is trying to return to normal by forcing its employees to return to the office three days a week, the firm has just changed its return to work policy by giving its employees more freedom. Assuring that this decision follows the increase in Covid-19 cases in San Francisco, the apple brand must also deal with the reluctance of its employees to return to the office.
Apple employees resist mandatory three-day-a-week attendance
About a year ago, as the vaccination campaign was in full swing, Apple unveiled to its employees its roadmap for returning to work, in particular imposing on them three days of mandatory presence in the offices per week. At the time, voices were raised among the employees of the Cupertino company, asking for more freedom and flexibility in relation to teleworking.
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The implementation of the mandatory three-day hybrid week has been delayed many times, as new variants like Omicron have pushed people to stay home, and have been restricted to two days of mandatory attendance. This month, Apple employees were finally supposed to comply with the new regulations, but the company shared an internal memo, seen by The Vergein which she once again changes her plans.
“ We are extending the introductory period of the pilot project and maintaining two days a week in the office for the time being. For those of you participating in the pilot, if you don’t feel comfortable coming into the office during this time, you have the option of working remotely. Please discuss your plans with your manager “says the firm. She also asks the employees present in the office “ to wear masks in common areas, meeting rooms, hallways and elevators – generally any areas outside of your personal workspace “.
Indeed, Covid-19 cases are on the rise again in the San Francisco area, where Silicon Valley is located.
The Covid-19 pandemic has propelled telework to the fore. Photography: vadim kaipov / Unsplash
Apple even loses employees
It seems obvious that Apple finds itself in a delicate position: the company would like its employees to be more present on its premises, but the latter have taken a liking to the new work format that has arisen during the pandemic. Moreover, Apple had to suffer several resignations for these reasons, like Ian Goodfellow, an executive of the firm who supervised its efforts in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
He decided to leave Apple to join the DeepMind teams at Google. If the Mountain View firm has also implemented a hybrid work week, it seems that Ian Goodfellow has more freedom there than at Apple thanks to the position he obtained.
In addition, the Apple Together employee group has written a letter to protest Apple’s plan, demanding more flexibility in their hybrid week. They explain that they can collaborate perfectly remotely using online tools such as Slack, and can thus save themselves hours of daily commuting to get to work.
The case of Apple is a demonstration of the impact of the pandemic on the world of work, which it has literally turned upside down. Many people appreciated working from home, in particular for the freedom it offers, as well as the hybrid weeks; so much so that companies, even the largest in the world, have to adapt.