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

[Apple_Robert]

I feel like it was clear the employees say it is burdensome.

If all employees had to abide by the same in person work directive before the Pandemic, how is this new work directive which seems to be more flexible (depending on job task) burdensome?

If an employee has suffered a mental or physical crisis during his or her required remote work for Apple, I think Apple should and will make the proper accommodations for said people. Barring that exception, I see no reason why the few employees who wrote the letter shouldn't be abiding by the new directive like everyone else.

 

[cmcbhi]

It’s a labour exchange. If you don’t own your own business then frankly you’re an idiot if you forget that a working contract is supposed to be equitable for all parties.

And anyone who doesn't think its fair can quit, can't they.
Do it.

 

[ethanwa79]

Some of these comments are crazy!

So many “company men” in here standing up for Apple for no reason other than for their love of some corporate entity.

Apple has done JUST FINE during COVID. If someone can do their job from home, let them. Stop standing up for some multinational mega-rich corporation who’s leaders get paid multimillions because you lost your virginity to the iPod.

 

[4jasontv]

If all employees had to abide by the same in person work directive before the Pandemic, how is this new work directive which seems to be more flexible (depending on job task) burdensome?

If an employee has suffered a mental or physical crisis during his or her required remote work for Apple, I think Apple should and will make the proper accommodations for said people. Barring that exception, I see no reason why the few employees who wrote the letter shouldn't be abiding by the new directive like everyone else.

Because it's not before the pandemic. The world changed and things are different now. Companies asked employees to bring their work home and disrupt the household so that they wouldn't go out of business. Now it's time to replay the kindness employees provided by accommodating corporate requests/demands and graciously allow employees the right to decide if and when they return.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Some of these comments are crazy!

So many “company men” in here standing up for Apple for no reason other than for their love of some corporate entity.

Apple has done JUST FINE during COVID. If someone can do their job from home, let them. Stop standing up for some multinational mega-rich corporation who’s leaders get paid multimillions because you lost your virginity to the iPod.

Last time I checked, employees don't dictate how a company will run.

Granted employees have a right to voice their questions and grievances to the company using the proper channels. And if the company disagrees with suggestions, said employees are free to sever their work relationship with the company.

 

[dmelgar]

Three days a week is MORE than reasonable. Assuming community transmission is low any employee should be over the moon with this offer.

I don't understand this type whiny self entitled post. It's as if people think working from home is a vacation. It's not. It's working. Just at home. Without a long commute. Allowing people to live in lower cost areas. Technology is here and allows great communication even from home. Many teams are already distributed across cities. Having a video call from an office is no better than having a video call from home.

 

[citysnaps]

Some overpaid people at Apple are whining like a little brats, while so many people around the world lost their job. They have no idea what privilege is to work at a rich company like Apple. These are probably the woke sjws that Tim nurtured with his politics.

Seriously? Nice try. You seem to be angry about societal notions of inclusiveness and equality.

They're just people wanting to take advantage of the Apple's/Cook's generosity during a trying period of time. And are replaceable. Show them the door it they're not happy.

 

[citysnaps]

Not since COVID. At least in the tech industry. 80% of people want to continue to work from home. It’s going to be a poaching perk, just like free sodas and food, sleep pods, and full family coverage health insurance.

If Apple won’t offer it, Google will, and the top talent will move on.

Nice conjecture. Apple will do just fine.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Because it's not before the pandemic. The world changed and things are different now. Companies asked employees to bring their work home and disrupt the household so that they wouldn't go out of business. Now it's time to replay the kindness employees provided by accommodating corporate requests/demands and graciously allow employees the right to decide if and when they return.

In my opinion, the only thing that seems to have changed here is some employees are attempting to dictate to the company what will happen and when.

Apple didn't have to offer the work from home option during the Pandemic but, they did. Apple compensated employees during that time. And now that that is over with, it is time to get back to normal operations as best as can be done from a global perspective.

 

[raindogg]

This echos companies all over, which may be the reason they are writing about it. One solution for companies is to bring back whoever is vaccinated. Then over time strongly suggest your employees get vaccinated. I worked at Apple in their Austin campus, they used to offer flu shots at your desk. Made it very easy to stay safe and healthy. There’s countries out there begging for the vaccine yet most of the spoiled, selfish Americans are turning it away.

 

[4jasontv]

In my opinion, the only thing that seems to have changed here is some employees are attempting to dictate to the company what will happen and when.

Apple didn't have to offer the work from home option during the Pandemic but, they did. Apple compensated employees during that time. And now that that is over with, it is time to get back to normal operations as best as can be done from a global perspective.

That's not how change works. Women didn't leave the factory after the war ended and people shouldn't leave their homes just because quarantine is over.

 

[krewger]

Guys, working from home got us bloom-gate on these XDR iPad pros trying to use dark appearance.

 

[Feyl]

You seem to be angry about societal notions of inclusiveness and equality.

Absolutely not.

 

[Apple_Robert]

That's not how change works. Women didn't leave the factory after the war ended and people shouldn't leave their homes just because quarantine is over.

If some people don’t want to leave their homes to work, they can find a new job where that is possible.

Apple employees are not entitled to do whatever they want whenever they want. That includes Cook. The letter employees are no different.

 

[Abazigal]

Some of these comments are crazy!

So many “company men” in here standing up for Apple for no reason other than for their love of some corporate entity.

Apple has done JUST FINE during COVID. If someone can do their job from home, let them. Stop standing up for some multinational mega-rich corporation who’s leaders get paid multimillions because you lost your virginity to the iPod.

There’s another option. Company A has so and so working policies, and if an employee doesn’t like them, he is free to leave and work at another company which does offer the perks that he wants.

For example, if your desire to WFH is because of long commute times, then perhaps it may be better to leave and find work at a company that is nearer to your house.

This represents a win-win scenario in my book. The employee is presumably happier working somewhere else, and vacancies are opened at at Apple where they can then hire other employees who have no issues with Apple’s decision to not offer full WFH arrangements.

Everyone is happy.

 

[vinsalducci]

I'm Director of Development at a medical start up. I got some of this "pushback" when I announced we were going back into the office.

"Well...the good news is....you don't have to WANT to come back into the office to work. You just have to do it." 1 month later, no one has quit, and there is no grumbling.

 

[Complex757]

It's hard to feel sorry for them when many people in our supermarkets, hospitals and stores never stopped going in to work and had to even work harder during the pandemic.

 

[BornAgainMac]

It really depends on the job and situation. If you are an executive, in your world it makes sense to be in the office. If you pick fruit in the fields then working from home doesn't make sense and you need to show up at work. If you are creative person, working from home if you don't have a wife and kids and it is quiet makes more sense than the office.

 

[4jasontv]

If some people don’t want to leave their homes to work, they can find a new job where that is possible.

Apple employees are not entitled to do whatever they want whenever they want. That includes Cook. The letter employees are no different.

They found a job where it's possible. See, they worked from home for the past year and a half.

Companies traded a say in where employees work in exchange for staying open during quarantine. They gave that up to maintain profits.

They simply don't get that power back.

 

[4jasontv]

I'm Director of Development at a medical start up. I got some of this "pushback" when I announced we were going back into the office.

"Well...the good news is....you don't have to WANT to come back into the office to work. You just have to do it." 1 month later, no one has quit, and there is no grumbling.

Not yet. But unless their compensation includes ownership I would keep an eye on who has access to data your competitors would pay for. Not saying your employees would betray you like that, but it sort of sounds like the company deserves it.

 

[jarman92]

You're not promoting empowerment and are against inclusivity. Anyone asking them to go back to the office is racist, imho.

This is sarcasm, right? 😳

 

[jarman92]

Since Apple's median employee pay is $57,783, I doubt many of those you are referring to were among the signatories of this letter.

Not sure where that figure comes from, but it’s terribly misleading. It’s obviously driven way down by many Apple’s retail employees. The median pay for corporate employees at Apple Park is surely well into 6 figures.

 

[decisions]

Absolute crybabies. Hire me Apple as an SWE, I’ll come in every day of the week.

 

[jarman92]

they never seem to work quite right (at least in the large offices I frequented). And also I doubt that they are properly maintained, especially in older buildings.

…what? Do you have magical “recirculated air” senses?

Also this doesn’t apply at all to Apple Park, which is brand new and certainly uses as much fresh air as possible.

 

[kerr]

I have zero sympathy for those that think it is unfair to have to be at work for at least 2-3 days each week. Yes there should be flexibility, and that means being at work some days, and being at home some days.

I have two colleagues that have not been at work one day in the past 15 months and it causes friction in the department. Personal productivity might be better working from home, but team productivity is not. For those of us in the office, we clearly observe that projects and team work are delayed because those working from home are simply not pulling their weight. This is exacerbated when you also have bad management that don’t do their job.