Apple CEO Tim Cook 'Can't Wait' for Employees to Return to In-Person Work

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook is eager for employees to return to the office following the pandemic and in an interview with People, he said he anticipates Apple implementing a "hybrid environment" to return to in-person work.

Cook said that it's important for people to "physically be in touch" because you can't plan collaboration and innovation.

"Innovation isn't always a planned activity," Cook adds. "It's bumping into each other over the course of the day and advancing an idea that you just had. And you really need to be together to do that."

Apple has an open floor plan model that's designed to encourage employees to interact with one another, and Cook says that Apple is still "figuring out" how to manage that as people return to work. The time away from the office has, however, taught Apple that some things are "perfectly great" to do virtually.

"We have realized and learned that there are some things that are perfectly great to do virtually across Zoom or WebEx, whatever, or FaceTime, whatever you might have. So I think it'll be, I'll call it a hybrid environment [for] a little bit."

Cook also took the opportunity to point out the work that Apple employees did while working remotely. Cook said that Apple had an "enormous, prolific period" with the introduction of the 5G iPhone 12 lineup and the M1 Macs. "These are major, major accomplishments," he said.

"We're very much an in-person team because we believe that's best for collaboration," Cook told People. "But we knew that was no longer possible, or not possible for this period of time. And so we had to reinvent ourselves."

Cook said that there was no firm return to work date, but he "can't wait" for Apple employees to be back at work.

In addition to commenting on Apple's future plans for employees returning to work, Cook answered a series of quick questions about his daily routine. Cook said that he goes to bed right around 9:30 p.m., and wakes up at 4:00 a.m. He opens up Apple News first thing in the morning, and coffee and his iPhone are two things he can't live without.

Cook said that he recently "binged" Apple TV+ series "Ted Lasso," and that strength training is his favorite workout. Cook also said that he last FaceTimed his nephew, his favorite emoji is the peace sign emoji (✌&#xfe0f and that he hopes to take a trip to Glacier National Park in the future.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook 'Can't Wait' for Employees to Return to In-Person Work

 

[sniffies]

Every office boss's dream

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Wow, cook says something intelligent regarding innovation. Cool! Go on - maybe its really happenig at apple sometimes.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Wonder how meeting 20.000 people in the spaceship exactly fosters innovation - but ready to learn!

 

[-DMN-]

Pull an Elon Musk, come to Texas, we're open!!

 

[blazerunner]

Working from home has been a blessing; no need to waste time in traffic, no need to waste money on gas, no need to use gas and pollute environment, no need to be around ******* coworkers (I was stuck with a bunch of close minded 50+ year old indian men that refused to speak english around me, even when i joined them for lunch)...

I don't miss the office AT ALL.

 

[MLMcMillion]

Apple has an open floor plan model that's designed to encourage employees to interact with one another

Yeesh. As a developer who works remotely, I can't fathom how people think this is still a good idea.

 

[ArPe]

Pull an Elon Musk, come to Texas, we're open!!

Prepare the mental ward for Elon. That’s his ultimate destination.

 

[bklement]

Open floor offices are among the greatest mistakes managers every came up with.

 

[munpip214]

Apple Employees 'Can’t Wait' to Return to In-Person Work as long as they can do it at home.

 

[topdrawer]

Working from home has been a blessing; no need to waste time in traffic, no need to waste money on gas, no need to use gas and pollute environment, no need to be around ******* coworkers (I was stuck with a bunch of close minded 50+ year old indian men that refused to speak english around me, even when i joined them for lunch)...

I don't miss the office AT ALL.

i think i'm using more resources heating up my house all day than commuting to work at this point. i don't think everyone working from home is necessarily more efficient than climate control for a single building for a lot of people.

 

[ArPe]

Yeesh. As a developer who works remotely, I can't fathom how people think this is still a good idea.

Yeah I mean who wants to meet people? Who wants to move their body all day to chat to people? Who needs social etiquette or dress well in public? Lunch with colleagues? We should remain at home all the time with no physical contact until we die from mental health problems. Loneliness is so cool. Am sure some Silicon Valley VCs have plans to exploit and monetize your life without a social circle. 😝😝😝

 

[Osxguy]

Cupertino is a mess and is not designed for the amount of traffic on 280.. Not only that but housing in Cupertino for a 2 bedroom apt is from $3,000- $4,000 a month. Ive spent upwards of an hour plus getting from downtown San Jose to Cupertino. Yeah, I can see that innovation can be obtained when you are next to others.

 

[ArPe]

Cupertino is a mess and is not designed for the amount of traffic on 280.. Not only that but housing in Cupertino for a 2 bedroom apt is from $3,000- $4,000 a month. Ive spent upwards of an hour plus getting from downtown San Jose to Cupertino. Yeah, I can see that innovation can be obtained when you are next to others. In my humble opinion I feel that Apple Engineers do not use the devices they create. There are too many bugs coming out even pre-covid.

LMAO wtf is this 💩 💩

 

[jz0309]

I can see his point given their secrecy and HW development is hard(er) remotely and some things impossible to do from home, but I also hope that he realizes that they need to adopt their culture ...

 

[testcard]

He can’t work the coffee machine or find the dishwasher tablets.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Love how quickly these bean counters flip the switch back to the traditional corporate America where everyone is enslaved to a desk at a specific time every day even though employees have proven they can complete the same work remotely with a better quality of life. Also interesting choice of image for the guy who is about to change that quality of life back to what it once was for many of the overworked employees. Mr Smiles, "welcoming" and "happy" as he looks down his whip.

I am certain that many of his employees aren't looking forward to holding in the lunch time gas while wearing tight jeans slumped over shared workstations providing zero privacy and super spreaders for the flu and common cold.

 

[Hessian]

We are created to be social beings. We can emulate all the things we need, but nothing can match the real thing. I like the idea of creating more flexibility and have a less rigid onsite policy. I am in favor of set days people come in to foster the positive elements he is endorsing.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Is anybody out there that got laid off from Apple during the pandemic?

 

[Hessian]

Love how quickly these bean counters flip the switch back to the traditional corporate America where everyone is enslaved to a desk at a specific time every day even though employees have proven they can complete the same work remotely with a better quality of life. Also interesting choice of image for the guy who is about to change that quality of life back to what it once was for many of the overworked employees. Mr Smiles, "welcoming" and "happy" as he looks down his whip.

LOL. Some people are actually lucky enough to work somewhere they have a passion, which is a positive emotional connection to the mission and the work. Where if you won the jackpot lotto, you would still show up, contribute, and enjoy.

Too many people don't have that, and it is the difficult life you describe. Work is work, we get paid, but that doesn't mean you should settle for something without meaning.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Yeah I mean who wants to meet people? Who wants to move their body all day to chat to people? Who needs social etiquette or dress well in public? Lunch with colleagues? We should remain at home all the time with no physical contact until we die from mental health problems. Loneliness is so cool. Am sure some Silicon Valley VCs have plans to exploit and monetize your life without a social circle. 😝😝😝

"I LIKE IT SO YOU HAVE TO"

We are created to be social beings. We can emulate all the things we need, but nothing can match the real thing. I like the idea of creating more flexibility and have a less rigid onsite policy. I am in favor of set days people come in to foster the positive elements he is endorsing.

"I LIKE IT SO YOU HAVE TO"

 

[phobos512]

Translation: They have a giant empty campus they're paying for that they need to extract some value from.

I personally would be happy never returning to the office. I have been to my office three times in the last year. I manage a remote team of contractors anyway. I can do that from anywhere on Earth.

 

[smaffei]

I would hang myself if I lived Tim's self described lifestyle from day to day. Nothing but Apple all of the time…

 

[Hessian]

"I LIKE IT SO YOU HAVE TO"



"I LIKE IT SO YOU HAVE TO"

Thanks for your contribution to the discussion...

Human chemistry shows we are social beings. Evidence like the fact that mental health issues arise during isolation supports this. For example, infants that aren't held have higher rates of developmental issues. Virtual connections are no substitute. One can debate causation vs correlation, but increased use of social media is found with statistical connection to depression and other mental health problems.

No one said you can't remote 100%, but evidence shows the harm long hours of isolation can create. Some professions demand such conditions and I feel far more sympathy for them.

 

[ipponrg]

Yeesh. As a developer who works remotely, I can't fathom how people think this is still a good idea.

As a lead developer and having worked in both environments, I don't mind either. I do think having it open creates more opportunities for you to get to interact with other folks from other teams. Of course if you don't care of those opportunities, you shouldn't have to participate.

I personally would be happy never returning to the office. I have been to my office three times in the last year. I manage a remote team of contractors anyway. I can do that from anywhere on Earth.

I actually prefer going back to the office again, at the very least 3 of 5 days. I do not like to mix my personal areas with work areas. Having work done in the office mentally separates work for me.