Apple Postpones Bringing Employees Back To Work As US Covid Cases Surge

A few weeks ago, we got the news that Apple could bring its employees back to their offices in summer, however, it looks like these plans have been pushed a month further to October at the earliest, as COVID cases skyrocket in the US.

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Reuters

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As reported first by Bloomberg, Apple has announced that it would give its employees a heads up one month in advance, before their expected. Apple also has become the first tech giant in the nation who has gone ahead and hit a pause on the ¡®back to work¡¯ trend that was seen by multiple tech companies across the nation.

The employees were supposed to return to work by early September for at least three days a week after the availability of vaccinations and decline in infection rates.

Apple has also asked its store employees to wear face coverings, regardless of whether they¡¯re vaccinated or not, according to people familiar with the matter in a conversation with Bloomberg.

It is also surprising that in the email addressing this delay, Apple actually emphasised the reason for the rising cases of COVID-19 and not the concerns of the employees, especially around limited remote working options.

Also Read: Apple To Offer COVID-19 Vaccine Shots At Its Offices For Employees

Reuters

Tim Cook in June had said how despite work from home going perfectly, it had something missing, "For all that we've been able to achieve while many of us have been separated, the truth is that there has been something essential missing from this past year: each other. Video conference calling has narrowed the distance between us, to be sure, but there are things it simply cannot replicate."

And even though half of the individuals in the US are vaccinated today, COVID-19 is still responsible for killing more people than guns, car crashes and influenza, combined. This is according to a Bloomberg review that looked at mortality data in the US.

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Reuters

The sudden rise in cases is partly due to the more transmissible delta variant of the novel coronavirus. Health officials in the US have also seen daily cases double from a low point just last month, with hospitalisations rising again.