Apple has asked employees to return to offices in September, claiming that videoconferencing is not sufficient on its own.
In a memo sent to staff, seen by The Verge, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that most employees will be required to work in an office three days a week, with the option to work remotely for two days. All remote working will need to be signed off by management.
Employees with “in-person” roles will be asked to work in offices four or five days a week.
“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,” he said.
“Video conference calling has narrowed the distance between us, to be sure, but there are things it simply cannot replicate”
Apple plans to ask most employees to be in the office Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday, with Wednesday and Friday assigned as remote working days.
The plan is similar to the strategy announced by Google in May, which said most employees will be working in offices three days each week from September.
Both Apple and Google have encouraged employees to get vaccinated but have not made it mandatory for returning to offices.
“For now, let me simply say that I look forward to seeing your faces,” Cook said.
