American tech giant Apple Inc. will continue with its hybrid working model despite receiving several requests for remote working from its employees.

Deirdre O’Brien, Senior Vice President of Retail and People at Apple, mentioned in an internal video that in-person working is essential for the ‘Apple culture’ as well as the future of the company. He added that the high-quality services and products that Apple is known to offer are a result of in-person collaboration.

For those unaware, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook had released a memo earlier in June outlining the need for employees working in-person at least thrice a week. This new hybrid work plan created some controversy when employees asked them to reconsider the decision, although it appears that Apple has declined all requests.

Several Apple employees had also sent a letter to Tim Cook requesting the flexibility of choosing between in-person and remote work. Apple will be looking into each case individually, but currently, the directive is to work in person in the office following the hybrid protocol.

This hybrid working is likely to start from September this year, where the staffs are to be present on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Only some employees would be granted remote working, while some staff might be required to be present in the office at least five times a week.

Apple has been working remotely since 2020 owing to the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the situation recuperating in the U.S., the iPhone maker has asked the employees to work in offices, despite receiving several requests for working from home.

Despite the controversies, Apple claims that the new hybrid working model is a much-relaxed approach. However, when compared to other companies that have allowed remote working like Facebook and Google, the hybrid protocol of Apple seems quite traditional.

Source Credits –

https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/29/apple-says-in-person-work-is-essential-and-will-not-go-back-from-its-hybrid-work-plan/