Apple employees have launched a petition against management’s decision to bring all staff back into the offices from September.
A group of Apple employees operating as a ‘solidarity union’ called Apple Together are rising up after Apple CEO Tim Cook said staff would be required to work from company offices for at least three days a week from September 5.
The group says Apple’s general stance on office work fails to take into account “the unique demands of each job” and ignores studies that show remote work is beneficial for productivity, diversity, inclusion and work-life balance.
Everyone on the bridge
Apple Together also notes that Apple’s return-to-office deadline falls on Labor Day – a US holiday established to recognize and celebrate the contributions of workers, and to honor the men and women who have campaigned for workers’ rights, such as the eight-hour day and the 40-hour week.
“We believe Apple should encourage, not prohibit, flexible working in order to build a more diverse and successful company where we can feel comfortable ‘thinking differently’ together,” the petition reads. from Apple Together.
In addition to the symbolic poor timing of Apple’s return-to-office deadline, antagonizing staff before what is traditionally the busiest time of the year for the iPhone maker could also prove problematic – especially given the state of the labor market and the increased demand for technological skills.
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 14 at an event on September 7, along with new Apple Watch models, with new iPads and Macs expected to follow in October. Above all, the company does not want to deal with groups of disgruntled employees in the run-up to these big launches. But, again, the fact that everyone is in a central place and “everyone is on deck” is probably the exact reason for Apple’s decision.
A softened back-to-office plan
In a memo to all Apple staff last week, which was published by The Verge, Tim Cook said his hybrid work pilot was “a great opportunity to come together, reconnect with our teams and meet new colleagues in person.
Apple’s stance on working arrangements has softened since its last attempt to bring employees back to the office, which was ultimately scuttled by rising Covid-19 cases. Initially, the company said that all Apple employees would be required to come into the office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The new plan – if implemented – requires working in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a floating third day to be assigned by officials. Depending on their role, some Apple employees will have the option to work remotely for up to four weeks per year.
Tim Cook said the revised plan would “enhance our ability to work flexibly, while preserving the in-person collaboration that is so central to our culture. »
watchword, flexibility
Apple Together argues that any schedule that mandates if and when employees must work from a desk ignores the fact that staff have demonstrated they can work effectively from home.
Instead, the group says workers should be allowed to find individual flexible working arrangements in conjunction with their direct supervisor and without “higher-level approval, complex procedures or provision of private information”.
The petition notes: “People requesting more flexible arrangements have many compelling reasons and circumstances: disabilities (visible or not), family care, safety, health and environmental concerns, financial considerations, or simply be happier and more productive.
Finally, the employees evoke: “The one thing we all have in common is that we want to do the best work of our lives for a company whose official position is to do what is right rather than what is easy”.
Source: ZDNet.com