Apple employees start a campaign against the new on-site working plan

According to a report released by The Verge, employees at Apple have started a campaign against the plans for a widespread return to this office in the coming months. 

This follows a memo to staff last week, in which Apple boss Tim Cook said all workers would be required to return to the office at least three days a week by September. 

In the memo, he said, “I know I’m not alone in missing the hum of activity, the energy, creativity and collaboration of our in-person meetings and the sense of community we’ve all built.”

However, staff have demanded greater flexibility. In the letter, it says, “Without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our wellbeing, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple.”

“Over the last year we often felt not just unheard, but at times actively ignored,” it also adds, accusing management of a “disconnect” with employees on the idea of flexible working.

The letter has requested: 

• Decisions about remote working to be left up to individual teams
• Further information on the environmental impact of on-site working vs. remote
• A plan to accommodate disabilities both on-site and remotely
• A company-wide survey on the subject of remote working in the company
• Exit interviews should specifically ask about the effect of remote working

Many employees have preferred working remotely over the last year. Although it has resulted in other problems like higher levels of loneliness, a lot of workers want more flexibility. 

Despite this, Apple, along with other tech giants, have made plans for staff to return to the office soon as restrictions continue to ease around the world. 

Google has recently told its staff to return three days a week by September, whilst Facebook and Twitter have said they will try to accommodate remote working where they can.