Apple Employees Criticize Work-from-Home Policy in Open Letter

[DEAD7]

Apple Employees Criticize Work-from-Home Policy in Open Letter


They said that Apple's reasons for implementing the policy don't stand up, and that the policy is wasteful, inflexible and will lead to a "younger, whiter, more male-dominated, more neuro-normative, more able-bodied" workforce. "You have characterized the decision for the Hybrid Working Pilot as being about combining the "need to commune in-person" and the value of flexible work," the letter states. "But in reality, it does not recognize flexible work and is only driven by fear. Fear of the future of work, fear of worker autonomy, fear of losing control."

 

[FaTaL]

what are they complaining about?

 

[DEAD7]

what are they complaining about?

In March, Apple announced that corporate employees would be returning to the office, and need to be there two days a week at minimum by May 2nd. Starting May 23rd, it'll shift to a hybrid model with mandatory office days on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. CEO Tim Cook called in-person collaboration benefits "irreplaceable" and in an email, the executive team talked about the importance of "the serendipity that comes from bumping into colleagues" during in-person work.

However, the letter counters those arguments saying that in-person collaboration is not even needed monthly in some cases. It also disputed the "serendipity" statement, saying that Apple's siloed office structure makes it difficult to bump into colleagues, adding that remote tools like Slack are better for collaboration. Furthermore, Apple's open-plan offices limit the concentration "required for creativity and... deep thought," they said.

It noted that a daily commute "is a huge waste of time as well as both mental and physical resources." At the same time, it said that the policy favors people who can afford to live near the office and don't have to perform care-work. "In short, it will lead to privileges deciding who can work for Apple, not who’d be the best fit."

Perhaps the most compelling argument was that Apple was being hypocritical in the way it markets its own products. "We tell all of our customers how great our products are for remote work, yet, we ourselves, cannot use them to work remotely?" the letter states. "How can we expect our customers to take that seriously? How can we understand what problems of remote work need solving in our products if we don't live it?"

The letter is another sign of growing employee discontent at Apple, which often presents itself as progressive and inclusive in its ads. Employees recently started organizing a push for "real change" at the company, citing "a pattern of isolation, degradation and gaslighting," and even created an #AppleToo movement. The company is also facing a probe by the US National Labor Relations Board, which is looking into complaints over hostile working conditions.

 

[FaTaL]

In March, Apple announced that corporate employees would be returning to the office, and need to be there two days a week at minimum by May 2nd. Starting May 23rd, it'll shift to a hybrid model with mandatory office days on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. CEO Tim Cook called in-person collaboration benefits "irreplaceable" and in an email, the executive team talked about the importance of "the serendipity that comes from bumping into colleagues" during in-person work.

However, the letter counters those arguments saying that in-person collaboration is not even needed monthly in some cases. It also disputed the "serendipity" statement, saying that Apple's siloed office structure makes it difficult to bump into colleagues, adding that remote tools like Slack are better for collaboration. Furthermore, Apple's open-plan offices limit the concentration "required for creativity and... deep thought," they said.

It noted that a daily commute "is a huge waste of time as well as both mental and physical resources." At the same time, it said that the policy favors people who can afford to live near the office and don't have to perform care-work. "In short, it will lead to privileges deciding who can work for Apple, not who’d be the best fit."

Perhaps the most compelling argument was that Apple was being hypocritical in the way it markets its own products. "We tell all of our customers how great our products are for remote work, yet, we ourselves, cannot use them to work remotely?" the letter states. "How can we expect our customers to take that seriously? How can we understand what problems of remote work need solving in our products if we don't live it?"

The letter is another sign of growing employee discontent at Apple, which often presents itself as progressive and inclusive in its ads. Employees recently started organizing a push for "real change" at the company, citing "a pattern of isolation, degradation and gaslighting," and even created an #AppleToo movement. The company is also facing a probe by the US National Labor Relations Board, which is looking into complaints over hostile working conditions.

gotta be in office 3 days a week, geee golly what a fuked up situation!!

 

[gho3st]

gotta be in office 3 days a week, geee golly what a fuked up situation!!

My team is full remote. We collaborate very effectively. The need to be 3 days on the office part to be collaborative is bullshyt

 

[greenvale]

Commutes are definitely terrible, but I understand Apple pulling this. They just built their new campus and prolly have tax agreements contingent on that, they pay well, and the apple stimulus is amazing for your resume.

They’ll just replace those who don’t wanna come in and they got the application pool to make this feasible

 

[FaTaL]

Commutes are definitely terrible, but I understand Apple pulling this. They just built their new campus and prolly have tax agreements contingent on that, they pay well, and the apple stimulus is amazing for your resume.

They’ll just replace those who don’t wanna come in and they got the application pool to make this feasible

the giant donut shaped building didnt come free, get your azzes in here!

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

My team is full remote. We collaborate very effectively. The need to be 3 days on the office part to be collaborative is bullshyt

While plenty of teams work fine remote, I also don’t think it’s too much to ask people be in office 3 days a week. Apple was a very in-person culture before the pandemic, they have fukking shuttles so you don’t even need to drive. This just seems like entitled whining, companies did what they had to during the pandemic but that doesn’t mean it was how they wanted to operate. So you were productive the last 2 years, great, now come back to the office and be productive. Futhermore, you won’t find sympathy for tech workers making 200k-1M+ who also have the most state of the art offices and facilities, this ain’t some dundler and mifflin office in podunk Iowa.

I’d take issue with anyone demanding me to be in the office 5 days a week (solely because I haven’t had a job like that since 2013), but it’s 3 days…get over yourselves

 

[gho3st]

While plenty of teams work fine remote, I also don’t think it’s too much to ask people be in office 3 days a week. Apple was a very in-person culture before the pandemic, they have fukking shuttles so you don’t even need to drive. This just seems like entitled whining, companies did what they had to during the pandemic but that doesn’t mean it was how they wanted to operate. So you were productive the last 2 years, great, now come back to the office and be productive. Futhermore, you won’t find sympathy for tech workers making 200k-1M+ who also have the most state of the art offices and facilities, this ain’t some dundler and mifflin office in podunk Iowa.

I’d take issue with anyone demanding me to be in the office 5 days a week (solely because I haven’t had a job like that since 2013), but it’s 3 days…get over yourselves

There are two world, before and after covid. We in post covid world now. fukk your office

 

[Scottie Drippin]

While plenty of teams work fine remote, I also don’t think it’s too much to ask people be in office 3 days a week. Apple was a very in-person culture before the pandemic, they have fukking shuttles so you don’t even need to drive. This just seems like entitled whining, companies did what they had to during the pandemic but that doesn’t mean it was how they wanted to operate. So you were productive the last 2 years, great, now come back to the office and be productive. Futhermore, you won’t find sympathy for tech workers making 200k-1M+ who also have the most state of the art offices and facilities, this ain’t some dundler and mifflin office in podunk Iowa.

I’d take issue with anyone demanding me to be in the office 5 days a week (solely because I haven’t had a job like that since 2013), but it’s 3 days…get over yourselves

There's no reason for it. You couldn't even find one yourself. That's the problem.

Covid exposed all the fallacies if the work place and all we're left with is cumbersome real estate deals we can't get out of. That's all this is.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

There are two world, before and after covid. We in post covid world now. fukk your office

Like someone else said, those employees can kick rocks then. Apple has no shortage of applicants and top talent in their pipelines. I know average ass mid career/non exec workers there literally making 600k-1M+/yr based on stock grants/appreciation, they can cry, but ain’t nobody walking away from that because they have to take a private shuttle to their office 3/days a week. That is Apple’s post covid - instead of 5 days, it’s 3

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

There's no reason for it. You couldn't even find one yourself. That's the problem.

I actually do see a reason for it. My role specifically is most effective with strong interpersonal relationships as I have to influence and motivate across multiple departments without authority. The authentic interactions I’m able to have in the office with people made my job much easier pre covid

like I said, it’s one thing to be stupid and ask for 5 days/week, 2-3 days is a very fair ask

 

[ORDER_66]

Apple is a WHITE corporation what did they expect?! diversity my ass, inclusion my ass silicon valley is very fukking racist and or biased.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

I’ll also add on that for early career/new grads, they’re definitely losing out with full remote. Rapport, visibility and mentorship (many people find mentors not on their direct team) are stifled for them. There is so much more information you pick up based on overhearing random conversations, lunch conversations or coffee runs, I’ve personally been invited to meetings that don’t directly have to do with my work when in office that gave me more insight or allowed me to learn a lot, quickly (particularly in new roles). Collaboration and brainstorming is easier when you can have an impromptu season with a handful of people and whiteboard together.

for new grads/early career - post college Social circles are often built at work, especially if you moved to a new area for a job - a lot of young employees have been complaining about this/feeling isolated because of an inability to build friendships in a remote world

does it need to happen M-F, nah, 2-3 days, cool

 

[Mike_Pipeson]

Hurry up and pass the Get Ya Ass Back In Office or Take 1/3 Paycut Law
Especially @Serious