Apple Will Delay Bringing Employees Back to Offices Until at Least October

[Mainsail]

Untrue. Cite a reputable source. This smells of disinformation from people who want to believe COVID is some political conspiracy.

Here is the data from the CDC (US) website that shows age breakdown by % of COVID deaths (blue bars). It was gathered when the deaths were at about 500,000. The US is at about 600,000 now.

While it does not appear that the average age is 83, it certainly appears that this disease primarily kills older people and rarely kills younger people. Deaths have dropped off dramatically in the US because a very high percentage of elderly people are now vaccinated. So, going forward, I would expect the proportion of deaths to shift toward younger (under 65) unvaccinated people, but the numbers should continue to be low (compared to the worse part of the pandemic) because younger people are just not very likely to die from this illness and older people are largely vaccinated.

BTW - While only 68% of US adults (over 18 y.o) have received at least one dose of the vaccine, the vaccinated number is heavily weighted toward the elderly. I read that almost 90% of those over 65 have received at least one dose. This was not by accident. Priority was given to the elderly during the vaccine rollout.

 

[jk73]

While it does not appear that the average age is 83,

You can’t extrapolate this from your chart because the category marked 85+ includes the biggest and oldest age range.

There was a point in the pandemic at which more people over the age of 100 had died than under 50, or some crazy stat like that. Meanwhile, 22-year-olds with stage 4 cancer who happened to test positive for COVID were counted as COVID deaths.

 

[Mainsail]

You can’t extrapolate this from your chart because the category marked 85+ includes the biggest and oldest age range.

There was a point in the pandemic at which more people over the age of 100 had died than under 50, or some crazy stat like that. Meanwhile, 22-year-olds with stage 4 cancer who happened to test positive for COVID were counted as COVID deaths.

Yeah, maybe the more important question is the median age rather than average age. In any case, no matter how you slice it, the data clearly shows that this disease mainly hit the elderly. And, I think the US deserves some credit for getting a very large portion of this population vaccinated quickly.

Now, do I wish all adults would get vaccinated? Yes. All the adults in our extended family (children, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews) are vaccinated, and that spans ages 20 y.o. to 88 y.o..

 

[macintoshmac]

If Apple wants 0% working from home and some Apple employees want 100%, how do you find common ground?

I could opine on this, but it isn’t my place to. It’s between Apple and the employees to find that common ground for themselves.

 

[hatchettjack]

id be there tomorrow if I had a snowball chance in H#$% of getting hired!

 

[DeepIn2U]

I know this will spark outrage, but as long as half the US refuses to vaccinate, we should be shutting things down again anyway. Our response has been pathetic. Can you imagine us responding to the world wars this way? Having the tools at our disposal to defeat a common enemy and doing so little about it. The UK, as well, has been terrible.

There has been no long term planning. Our success and failure have been at the mercy of the pharmaceutical industry, which have been a godsend and the only part of this that have worked, and then we reject the gift. So we have to make alternative plans because this virus will keep mutating and the vaccines will keep getting weaker in their effect.

I say shut down the retail stores, as well. Delta is percolating in more people than we know including the vaccinated, mutating.

This is now a long term problem and it requires cohesiveness. Global vaccination. What an embarrassment that we can't even vaccinate the country where the vaccine is most available.

I doubt Apple backed down as much from the original letter's complaint as they did from the health reality that everyone is facing. But they should do the right thing and shutter the retail stores for all their employees then.

while I’m inclined to side with you … I have to mention a bit of a history lesson (For what you typed in bold)

Facts:

the USA did respond to a world war by ignoring it thinking it wouldn’t affect them.
the USA military also ignored the Spanish flu whe; it hit military bases just at the end of ww1 thinking “it’ll all go ahead, don’t cause panic and fear after soldiers just coming home the world was free.

we’re repeating the same mistakes over and over again. People, you me everyone tends to forget after a few short months or years. It’s like bookmarking a post on Twitter, how many people actually review all their bookmarks there??? Hardly anyone.

 

[DeepIn2U]

As opposed to supporting Apple employees for standing up what they believe in, MR below the line calls them whingeing and whining. So many people across the world don’t want to go back to the office, for so many reasons: to spend more time wirth family, to reduce climate impact, just to name a few. Why do we not stand up together and work towards a world in which employees have more power, collectively, and support those who are already trying?

please do NOT use reduction of carbon climate impact here. These people could’ve taken a bike to/from work daily years before the pandemic if they truly believed that. Not cook using electricity from fossil fuel sources. I’ll bet the females use makeup with sources from whale fat or other animal parts processed. This is complete
y a selfish move. People are people.

if the real concern is for others & 5he climate 5hen a large chunk of their incone & collective efforts would be used to clean, house, clothe & feed the 10’s of thousands homeless in California.

Starting with spoiled tech workers? Why not start with the 50-year-old ladies who clean toilets for minimum wage, or the masses of people delivering things to these spoiled workers for peanuts while they’re WFH during a pandemic?

Right?! At least someone is thinking in this thread.

 

[Pezimak]

You were worried when the number was 60% but you’re not worried now that the number is “only” 40%?

If you look at it, they haven't specified as a percentage those who are in hospital and are double vaccinated. So it's not 40% I don't think.

 

[EnderTW]

This thread is really weird.

I am fortunate enough to work for an employer that has given me the choice to WFH or come back into the office, but what does it matter to anyone outside of Apple and their employees?

If Apple employees prefer to WFH they should voice their reasoning and concerns, they're doing it the right way. Apple I believe will move to adopt WFH because they will see talent leave Apple and work for organizations that value and trust their employees to WFH. It's simple. If Apple doesn't bend, that's fine, people will have to make a choice. I personally know a few who gave up $150k+ salaries to do it on their own or go work for a competitor, citing inflexibility on remote work. Apple will learn quickly how talent acquisition and retention will become a major problem for the organization. Or maybe Apple will be fine because they will still be able to acquire and retain good talent even if they continue with their old ways.

Either way, it doesn't impact your life. lol

 

[Mainsail]

This thread is really weird.

I am fortunate enough to work for an employer that has given me the choice to WFH or come back into the office, but what does it matter to anyone outside of Apple and their employees?

If Apple employees prefer to WFH they should voice their reasoning and concerns, they're doing it the right way. Apple I believe will move to adopt WFH because they will see talent leave Apple and work for organizations that value and trust their employees to WFH. It's simple. If Apple doesn't bend, that's fine, people will have to make a choice. I personally know a few who gave up $150k+ salaries to do it on their own or go work for a competitor, citing inflexibility on remote work. Apple will learn quickly how talent acquisition and retention will become a major problem for the organization. Or maybe Apple will be fine because they will still be able to acquire and retain good talent even if they continue with their old ways.

Either way, it doesn't impact your life. lol

Well, the general topic of return to work post-pandemic impacts millions of people. You are on a comment board, so people will weigh-in on all kinds of topics. Even if it does not affect them directly. The broader policy issues are important to many people.

I am not sure why it seems weird that people will provide comment on a Forum. That's what people do on these boards. Of course, I do agree people should be polite and not nasty or rude.