I don't work at Apple, but I think every employer to some degree faces this discussion at the moment.
Before the pandemic hit we'd all just taken for granted that we need to commute and go to an office 4 or 5 days per week. Then we were all forced to live an alternative and overall it just worked. I spend significantly less time and money on public transport. For me that works out to two additional hours I can spend on something I actually enjoy.
Our productivity did not go down over the pandemic, but that's not to say that there aren't things that work better in person. Ideally you want the flexibility to go in when needed, and work from home when you don't. Instead it often seems the push back to work is driven by a desire to not waste the corporate lease.
True there are pros and cons.
Pro, working on a computer you
could actually be more productive from home, plus you can multitask, pick up the kids from school etc. So as a human you could be more productive, while saving money and time on transport, housing and, from employer's perspective, office space.
But what about all the time you "waste" at the office? Chatting to colleagues, walking down long corridors, sharing a table at lunch, confiding with the person next to you in a boring meeting, or just having a laugh. Those moments build loyalty to the brand and generate ideas, trust and lasting friendships. Co-workers become godparents or friends you go on holiday with in 20 years' time. That is a real sticky ecosystem that people don't want to leave.
But what if you're antisocial and never had or wanted those bonds? It was just a paid gig. Then you're probably the right person to be fired come the next recession, because your employer might as well be outsourcing your work to a third party.
