Apple Reinstating Employee Mask Mandate at Approximately 100 U.S. Retail Stores

[MacRumors]

Apple retail employees at around 100 stores will need to go back to wearing a mask while working, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is mandating masks for employees again due to a rising number of COVID cases across the United States.

Customers who visit an Apple Store are not required to wear a mask at this time, but Apple is continuing to recommend masks for all Apple Store visitors.

Apple has been shifting its operating policies throughout the pandemic to keep in line with local regulations and to mitigate risk for employees and customers in areas where COVID is spiking. Apple stopped requiring masks in March when COVID levels were lower, and masks still aren't required for employees in all locations.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1526623430136709125

In addition to requiring masks for retail employees at some locations, Apple today told corporate employees that they must go back to wearing masks when in common areas. Apple is also maintaining its two day in-office work week for corporate employees for the time being, and will delay going to a three-day work week.

Article Link: Apple Reinstating Employee Mask Mandate at Approximately 100 U.S. Retail Stores

 

[Realityck]

Another example of non-news from Mark Gruman. If Apple is being cautious with employees returning to work, they will certainly apply that to their retail employees that have to interact with consumers visiting stores in some locations where covid activity is up-ticking.

 

[turbineseaplane]

How about that in person WWDC they have upcoming?

(still can't believe they thought that was worth it, even at a reduced size)

 

[lyngo]

Here we go again...

 

[Naraxus]

Yeah no. I am done with wearing masks.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yeah no. I am done with wearing masks.

It's an employee mask mandate

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

"Just 2 weeks to flatten the curve..."

 

[Realityck]

How about that in person WWDC they have upcoming?

(still can't believe they thought that was worth it, even at a reduced size)

I think that is manageable considering pre-event testing requirements with mask usage and seating distancing.

 

[nfl46]

Thankfully, it’s not for customers. I haven’t worn a mask in forever.

 

[4jasontv]

Given they don’t have any products for sale, why keep the stores open?

 

[barkomatic]

I don't understand how requiring masks only for employees helps either employees or customers. Not that I think either group should be required to wear them at this point.

Looking more broadly, employees can go out without masks in a variety of environments outside of work, but suddenly requiring masks in this one scenario somehow protects them?

 

[no_idea]

At what point will these companies realize that you cannot outrun a pandemic nor prevent it. Wearing masks just delays the inevitable. Common sense would indicate the reason why the numbers were so low a few months ago is because nearly everyone caught omnicron and we had a “herd” immunity of some sort. Stop trying to outrun this thing. If it runs it’s course, it will eventually subside

 

[ajfahey]

How did the human race ever survive without masks?

 

[groove-agent]

Yeah no. I am done with wearing masks.

My office removed the mask mandate and we had 1/3 our staff get sick. I chose to continue wearing a mask and had to work with no support staff and deal with angry clients because of the wait times. I was so run down and tired I had to use some of my vacation to rest. Total BS and completely unfair because I chose to do the right thing and everyone else jumped at the opportunity to take their masks off ASAP.

I still have to come in on my days off because staff is calling in sick. I haven’t been sick for as long as I’ve been wearing a mask. I just get burned out from covering everyone else.

 

[groove-agent]

At what point will these companies realize that you cannot outrun a pandemic nor prevent it. Wearing masks just delays the inevitable. Common sense would indicate the reason why the numbers were so low a few months ago is because nearly everyone caught omnicron and we had a “herd” immunity of some sort. Stop trying to outrun this thing. If it runs it’s course, it will eventually subside

Because if everyone got sick at the same time it would put too much strain on the hospitals. It keeps things more manageable for society.

 

[no_idea]

Because if everyone got sick at the same time it would put too much strain on the hospitals. It keeps things more manageable for society.

Won’t be a strain on hospitals if you get the vax…that has been scientifically proven and undisputed

 

[profets]

What's amazing about masks is that comparison after comparison of neighbouring regions where one has a mask mandate and the other does not results in near identical rates of cases and transmission.

End this theatre already.

 

[citysnaps]

So many virologists/epidemiologists here. Please advise Apple. Stat!

 

[anthogag]

It does look better if employees are wearing a mask while customers are not wearing a mask. It says we really care about you and your business. ?

 

[JPack]

I don't understand how requiring masks only for employees helps either employees or customers. Not that I think either group should be required to wear them at this point.

Looking more broadly, employees can go out without masks in a variety of environments outside of work, but suddenly requiring masks in this one scenario somehow protects them?

It's called probability. There is a not so small number of employees who continue to wear masks outside of work. If someone is sick at work, it also helps reduce the spread.

It's 2022 and some people are still questioning basic concepts like this?

 

[russell_314]

"Just 2 weeks to flatten the curve..."

They weren’t talking about earth weeks ?

 

[dwaite]

Wearing masks just delays the inevitable.

You figured it out - the purpose is to prevent an overload of critical infrastructure like hospitals, and to reduce the size of outbreaks impacting essential services like transportation and food processing.

How did the human race ever survive without masks?

We didn’t have globalization and quick travel to spread disease - you’d just have a village or few ‘disappear’. The Spanish flu outbreak of 1918-1920 was really spread by troops returning home from WWI.

Big domestic issue back then in managing spread? People refused to wear masks

 

[russell_314]

Thankfully, it’s not for customers. I haven’t worn a mask in forever.

I think each state has its own policies but in Texas you only have to wear one has a doctors office or hospital. In the big cities sometimes you’ll see people wearing them but where I live it’s a rare occurrence

 

[ponzicoinbro]

Yeah no. I am done with wearing masks.

I love wearing my mask.

I no longer breath pollution and inhale smelly people.

No one cared who I was until I put on the mask.

 

[no_idea]

I love wearing my mask.

I no longer breath pollution and inhale smelly people.

No one cared who I was until I put on the mask.

U do realize that by continuing to wear a mask, you will weaken your immune system over time to where it will be hard to be around ppl without a mask and not get sick one day