Apple Staff Complain About Plans for Return to Office Work in Letter to Tim Cook

[Silverstring]

The new Work From Home policy is almost certainly coming...

…or the mass firing that those who might worship at the Altar of Power: Church of the Infallible Boss have been suggesting.

Could go either way, really. 🙃

 

[Abazigal]

Innovation comes in different ways. Companies like Google and Facebook are innovating with different ways to work while Apple is stuck in the past same as those financial companies that are forcing people back to the office.

one example, due to necessity Facebook and Google will be the ones pioneering augmented reality / hologram tech to allow you to meet with others without physically being there. This is the future. Apple will be falling behind and likely do nothing in this space.

There’s also the possibility that google and facebook are wrong in this regard, and the shift to WFH results in a slower product innovation cycle that will only make itself apparent years down the road, and causes them to further fall behind Apple.

Not saying that these companies are wrong to try, but one has to accept the possibility that they may very well not succeed in this regard.

 

[Silverstring]

There’s also the possibility that google and facebook are wrong in this regard, and the shift to WFH results in a slower product innovation cycle that will only make itself apparent years down the road, and causes them to further fall behind Apple.

Not saying that these companies are wrong to try, but one has to accept the possibility that they may very well not succeed in this regard.

Very true.

 

[TheRealSatoshi]

The people complaining are highly skilled tech workers that can easily work elsewhere. I doubt they care that much if they were to be sacked. Some will likely resign if they can’t WFH full time anyway, so they don’t have much to lose here.

I’ve been working from home for nearly 1.5 years now due to the pandemic. While I’m dreading the return to the office, I also don’t want to be home 24/7. I’m sure there’s a middle ground somewhere.

 

[I7guy]

The people complaining are highly skilled tech workers that can easily work elsewhere. I doubt they care that much if they were to be sacked. Some will likely resign if they can’t WFH full time anyway, so they don’t have much to lose here.

I’ve been working from home for nearly 1.5 years now due to the pandemic. While I’m dreading the return to the office, I also don’t want to be home 24/7. I’m sure there’s a middle ground somewhere.

Isn’t that middle ground the hybrid approach Apple wants to initiate? The hoopla is about the perceived, subjective reaction of management to the letter. We don’t know the objective reaction.

 

[ctucci]

Are we, though? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed working remotely for the most part. But no matter how much we’ve tried the connection between colleagues has taken a hit. We saw each other for the first time in a year yesterday and it was instantly much better. Not saying I want to go back to the office but I think this is why remote companies often have meet-ups etc - digital just isn’t good enough.

In our case, we are. Yes. Digital is indeed good enough. When something needs hands on attention, we go in and fix it. We're more productive this way because we can focus.

 

[Ubuntu]

In our case, we are. Yes. Digital is indeed good enough. When something needs hands on attention, we go in and fix it. We're more productive this way because we can focus.

Yes, the productivity and focus is much better for me too, but I mean the connection between colleagues. It's just not the same in my experience, so I stand by my point.

 

[hatchettjack]

sent my resume to Mr. Cook! told him id be there everyday! and that I'm a fast learner! also stated I would work for free for 90 days and if they like me they can repay down the line!

 

[ctucci]

Yes, the productivity and focus is much better for me too, but I mean the connection between colleagues. It's just not the same in my experience, so I stand by my point.

Fair enough, different experiences can yield different outcomes.

 

[Realityck]

Apple isn’t backing down from its hybrid work model, according to internal note - The Verge 6/29​

Apple isn’t backing down from its hybrid work model that will require most employees to return to the office three days a week starting in early September. Fully remote positions will be extremely limited.

“We believe that in-person collaboration is essential to our culture and our future,” said Deirdre O’Brien, senior vice president of retail and people, in a video recording viewed by The Verge. “If we take a moment to reflect on our unbelievable product launches this past year, the products and the launch execution were built upon the base of years of work that we did when we were all together in-person.”

The news comes nearly a month after Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out an email telling employees the company was rolling out a new work model that would require them to return to in-office work on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays starting in the fall.

In the wake of that announcement, Apple employees wrote a letter saying some employees had been forced to quit because of the policy, and asking Cook to change his stance. They asked that all teams be given the option to work remotely, noting “without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our well-being, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple.”

Now, Apple is essentially denying that request, saying any remote work decisions will be made “on a case-by-case basis with any new remote positions requiring executive approval.”

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Apple isn’t backing down from its hybrid work model, according to internal note - The Verge 6/29​

Good to hear. They are doing what is best for their culture and business which is the most important thing. Offering employees 2 days a week working from home is a great proposal and those that feel entitled to have more are free to do what they need to do. Unless those employees were employed with a contract that stated 100% working from home, they haven’t really got a case. If they just got comfortable doing it because of the pandemic and don’t want to face the reality of returning to some form of normality, crash and burn I say!

 

[dba415]

Hope all the talented people will realize other companies pay just as well and offer more flexibility. Apple will be left fighting for scraps in terms of the talent pool

 

[MJ22]

Am I missing something? These people took the job in the first place when it was a fully in-person job? Now they’re acting like hostages? GTFO with your whiny nonsense. Your family was fine with you at work before, they’ll survive without you again. Or get a new job. Lazy morons.

 

[Ubuntu]

Am I missing something? These people took the job in the first place when it was a fully in-person job? Now they’re acting like hostages? GTFO with your whiny nonsense. Your family was fine with you at work before, they’ll survive without you again. Or get a new job. Lazy morons.

Yeah, you’re missing something. It’s been a lot easier to work from home for many people. Easier to focus, get things done etc, and less time wasted commuting. There are the downsides as I’ve mentioned in recent posts but I’m all for a team deciding if it should work remotely or not.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yeah, you’re missing something. It’s been a lot easier to work from home for many people. Easier to focus, get things done etc, and less time wasted commuting. There are the downsides as I’ve mentioned in recent posts but I’m all for a team deciding if it should work remotely or not.

It was a lot easier when schools were closed and businesses hadn’t had time to put in Covid measures but we’ve adapted in the past 15 months. Schools are back and employers have been very flexible ensuring people are able to work and balance family life.

However, businesses are migrating back to normal and in Apples cases and many others, they’ve adapted to a hybrid working scheme. The best of both worlds. There must be plenty of jobs that allow 100% working from home.

 

[Ubuntu]

It was a lot easier when schools were closed and businesses hadn’t had time to put in Covid measures but we’ve adapted in the past 15 months. Schools are back and employers have been very flexible ensuring people are able to work and balance family life.

However, businesses are migrating back to normal and in Apples cases and many others, they’ve adapted to a hybrid working scheme. The best of both worlds. There must be plenty of jobs that allow 100% working from home.

True, but I think in this case many of the people want to work for Apple, while working remotely. For that scenario I can sympathise because it is indeed hard to go back once you've found a setup that works for you but it sounds like those people will have to make a hard decision.

 

[Realityck]

Hope all the talented people will realize other companies pay just as well and offer more flexibility. Apple will be left fighting for scraps in terms of the talent pool

Obviously you don't live in silicon valley, if you did you would never make that comment about Apple. They are their own unique work environment, culture. Not too many companies are of the same caliber, and we have pretty much them all represented locally that are part of the tech industry.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

True, but I think in this case many of the people want to work for Apple, while working remotely. For that scenario I can sympathise because it is indeed hard to go back once you've found a setup that works for you but it sounds like those people will have to make a hard decision.

I quite enjoyed working from home as I have a nice dedicated office in my home but life goes on and we have to accept we have to migrate back to our proper jobs in my view. My company have the approach to Apple where some of us can work from home when we like but need to also have an office presence. It’s also nicer and easier to collaborate in person on many projects. Some departments were told to return with no WFH at all. That’s life and companies will be flexible but have to concentrate on what is best for the business too.

 

[Realityck]

Current Covid 19 Vacination status for Santa Clara country where a good chunk of Apple employees work.

Now compare that to where you live. This is why Apple is so comfortable with bringing employees WFH back to the office starting in August thru September. Its also why they changed their store policy concerning vaccinated customers.

 

[Abazigal]

To add on, I came across this article over the weekend, which talks about the pros and cons of working remotely, and the takeaway is the recommendation of a hybrid model where employees report to the workplace on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. They are free to work from home on Wednesday and Friday.

What research says about how to make hybrid work succeed

Stanford's Nicholas Bloom says companies should adopt centralized hybrid work approaches.

www.charterworks.com

I am inclined to agree with him.

Thoughts?

 

[Realityck]

New article replaces this one

Apple Still Planning Return to In-Person Work in September, Despite Employee Complaints

Apple is not backing down on its plan to return to three days of in-person work a week starting in September, despite employees complaining about the...

www.macrumors.com

 

[MJ22]

Yeah, you’re missing something. It’s been a lot easier to work from home for many people. Easier to focus, get things done etc, and less time wasted commuting. There are the downsides as I’ve mentioned in recent posts but I’m all for a team deciding if it should work remotely or not.

Too bad so sad. They were hired as in person employees in the first place. They have enjoyed their vacation and it’s time to go back to work as was the intention when they accepted the job.

 

[I7guy]

Hope all the talented people will realize other companies pay just as well and offer more flexibility. Apple will be left fighting for scraps in terms of the talent pool

How do you know what specific jobs and skill levels Apple pay is at compared to a job requiring the same skill level at another company? Somehow I don't think Apple is going to be the one left fighting for scraps.

 

[jcmoney10]

Too bad so sad. They were hired as in person employees in the first place. They have enjoyed their vacation and it’s time to go back to work as was the intention when they accepted the job.

Lol how is continuing to work from a different location than the office considered a vacation? You act like everyone just took a year off and don’t wanna work anymore.

 

[jcmoney10]

It was a lot easier when schools were closed and businesses hadn’t had time to put in Covid measures but we’ve adapted in the past 15 months. Schools are back and employers have been very flexible ensuring people are able to work and balance family life.

However, businesses are migrating back to normal and in Apples cases and many others, they’ve adapted to a hybrid working scheme. The best of both worlds. There must be plenty of jobs that allow 100% working from home.

You keep mentioning “getting back to normal”… why is this such a big deal? Normal is a ever changing idea. It was once “normal” to own slaves, does that make that version of “normal” the correct way to do things? Covid created a new normal, and many people realized that going into into an office is a waste of time and resources.