Indefinite Work From Home Extended For Apple Employees Due To Rising Covid Cases; Postpones Return To Office

Tech giant Apple has again delayed the employees’ return to the office. 

In fact, the company has discarded its old plan of asking people to return to their offices three times a week and has introduced a new plan for its employees.

Apple Delays Work From Office Policy, Again!

Apple has done away with its directive that asked employees to return to the offices three times a week by May 23rd. Instead of this, the company has launched a pilot that asks employees to return for two days a week in the coming weeks. 

Additionally, the company’s note states that employees who aren’t comfortable can work remotely. 

The iPhone manufacturer has assured that two weeks’ notice will be given to employees before any changes are introduced. However, in-person workers will be required to wear masks in common spaces and elevators. 

The delay might be because of the increase in the COVID-19 cases, especially after the emergence of other variants such as Omicron. Up until the occurence of Omicron, Apple had asked employees to work from office at least once per week in April and twice per week as of May 2nd.

Apple’s Efforts To Restart Work From Office Policy

Apple had recently announced that employees will have to work from the office for at least one day out of the week by that date, according to a memo shared by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook on Friday. Apple Inc. has set 11th April as the deadline for employees to come back and work from the office.

Three weeks after April 11, employees will be expected in the office twice in a week. And after May 23, employees will have to work from the office for at least three days out of a week — on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“For many of you, I know that returning to the office represents a long-awaited milestone and a positive sign that we can engage more fully with the colleagues who play such an important role in our lives,” Cook said. “For others, it may also be an unsettling change.

The company has been trying to bring employees back into the office since last June, but has had to postpone the return deadline many times as Covid cases escalated during fall and winter. Apple had previously postponed September, October, January and February deadlines before the company ultimately scrapped its return plans indefinitely in the month of December.