Apple Requiring Employees to Return to Office 3x Per Week Starting on September 5

[segfaultdotorg]

Are they unionized?

Not yet, but it sounds like Apple is pretty much inviting it with its draconian policies.

I am far more productive working from home, although not everyone is. I stayed caught up during COVID. I found that the time that you would normally spend engaged in mindless office chatter or other distractions can be spent actually doing work, and you still have time left over to throw in a load of laundry or vacuum the floors during the workday. The hybrid model is pretty awful by comparison.

 

[jjudson]

I wonder how well that building will age.

70’s architecture looked cool when they built it…

 

[temende]

Both sides should simply do whatever is best for them. Apple should insist that employees come to the office X days per week if they think it'll meaningfully improve their business, and employees who don't like it should vote with their feet and work at another fully-remote tech company, of which there are plenty.

 

[calstanford]

This is fair

How is this fair? Explain.

 

[temende]

How is this fair? Explain.

I'm a regular critic of Apple and a huge proponent of remote work, but I don't how see how Apple is doing anything "unfair" here. Apple has made it well-known that they are a firm believer of in-person work, even to those of us who don't work there. It's fine if you disagree or think that's a "boomer mentality", but at this point if you're still at Apple but want a remote job, that's 100% on you as an employee.

 

[steve09090]

Every business is different. Damn, I wish I could have been a police officer, working from home. I would have brought the crime rate down to zero (minus stealing a few snickers bars from the missus)…. Instead I retired, and haven’t been out of my pj's since!

People need to act less entitled.
Electricity goes down in a storm… "Sorry mate. Working from home, so there’s nothing I can do."
Call for an emergency…. "Sorry, can you hold the line, my toddler is stuck under the sofa"
Called back to the office… "Damn, I programmed my workplace as my home address in Google and now I don’t know where the office is; can you come to me?"

 

[Abazigal]

Not yet, but it sounds like Apple is pretty much inviting it with its draconian policies.

I am far more productive working from home, although not everyone is. I stayed caught up during COVID. I found that the time that you would normally spend engaged in mindless office chatter or other distractions can be spent actually doing work, and you still have time left over to throw in a load of laundry or vacuum the floors during the workday. The hybrid model is pretty awful by comparison.

Since when do unions have the power to push for 100% WFH arrangements?

 

[alexandr]

It's amusing to see how many people consider WFH to be a lazy/relaxed mockery of hard work that they have to go do on-site. My co-workers and I have been working just as hard, if not harder than before the pandemic, 'cause you never really leave the office .

Personally, I'm quite happy with it, and now that I've converted to being fully remote, I love it. I like having the option to go in to an office, but I don't understand why some companies are making it mandatory for everyone to go in just because. Sure, some work is hard, or even impossible to do remotely, but still...

 

[darknyt]

Forcing people back to the office is a much cheaper and slimier way to announce layoffs.

The problem is that often leads to retaining those you don’t want (and they become quiet quitters) and those that can leave, do so. They are often your best talent.

 

[Apleeseed84]

Is it going to be 3 whole days of working or just show up and catch up with co-workers face to face?

They’ll probably force efficiency and production up 500% a whole Weeks work in 3 for four days off lololol, i kid, either way, salaried employees are already well off than hourly.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

So why do they want people in the office?

Because people in the office go somewhere near the office for lunch… or, when they’re not using internal catering services, having catering delivered… or are having their drycleaning done nearby? There’s probably a LOT of businesses that benefit from there being a couple hundred people milling about.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

It ideally is a case by case basis, but I think hybrid is the best approach for a blanket solution

If people are objectively (i.e. evaluated by their boss) better at home, then I have no problems with them wfh

Yeah, only Apple’s managers know how well their employees work at home.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

The people who did WFH starting with COVID really can't draw conclusions that override what people like me who have been telecommuting for 15+ years know about it. We've spent a lot of time building companies around the concept and we got way past all these petty squabbles many years ago. We're somehow excluded from the conversation, however.

 

[JM]

You're free to question. I stand by what I said.

Then back it up with a conversation. I am generally interested in your point of view, and being quite reasonable in wondering why WFH is so amazing.

 

[JM]

Maybe because they get paid 35% of the sales tax on any of their products sold in California for them to employ people in California, specifically Cupertino. It was originally 50%. And they have the same deal in place in North Carolina, valued at 850 million dollars over 40 years in NC alone. And they get a rebate of 65% of taxes paid in Texas for employing people in Austin. So why do they want people in the office?

That’s pretty awesome of the cities to put tax dollars to work to entice companies to create jobs and employ residents within the cities.

👍

 

[JM]

The people who did WFH starting with COVID really can't draw conclusions that override what people like me who have been telecommuting for 15+ years know about it. We've spent a lot of time building companies around the concept and we got way past all these petty squabbles many years ago. We're somehow excluded from the conversation, however.

What point of view is being excluded? What conclusions has your company’s 15+ years of telecommuting experience provide? It sounds like something that could be an interesting addition to the conversation. 😯

 

[Eorlas]

Just gonna grab some popcorn so I can read how amazing people who WFM are and how productive they are and they never do anything but work

gonna grab some popcorn and amuse myself on how people who insist that office life is the only productive life probably never consider the water cooler chats, coffee breaks, or how many people meme about using toilet time to chew up the work day.

 

[JM]

Should be 5 days.

Why not make it seven and really work those employees to death. They’ll get their “measly” wages and catered meals at the most beautiful work campus ever and LIKE IT!

Bwahahah! Capitalism! 😈

 

[_Spinn_]

A lot of places seem to be adopting the hybrid model. Should be interesting to see if it lasts.

 

[JM]

gonna grab some popcorn and amuse myself on how people who insist that office life is the only productive life probably never consider the water cooler chats, coffee breaks, or how many people meme about using toilet time to chew up the work day.

Now now… don’t pretend that you don’t take long bathroom breaks in the comfort of your home as well. I know the scented candles are nice at home, but the office bathroom has that really nice Charmin toilet paper and free coffee to really make the trips more frequent.

 

[JM]

Try working on a team spread out across multiple timezones. My coworkers and I are gonna be on Teams calls no matter if we’re in the offices or not, so working from home means it’s easier to deal with working across the timezones (no commuting to deal with before early meetings or after late ones) and easier to collaborate.

Companies don’t usually pay for commute time, so avoiding a long commute does actually provide a HUGE work/life balance improvement.

Though, having that de-stress time in the car is actually pretty nice if you’re able to not let traffic affect you and listen to a podcast or book on tape.

 

[aajeevlin]

I don't understand why people on this forum are so against people wanting to work from home. Okay, so you wouldn't do it, but why make fun of others wanting to do it and why belittle it?

I legitimately did the best work of my life during WFH. I miss it.

I think most of those that don't either a) are people who enjoy going into the office for the social aspect or b) are managers who are resistant to change.

Because they are not allowed to, so they want to drag everyone with them.

 

[JM]

I don't understand why people on this forum are so against people wanting to work from home. Okay, so you wouldn't do it, but why make fun of others wanting to do it and why belittle it?

I legitimately did the best work of my life during WFH. I miss it.

I think most of those that don't either a) are people who enjoy going into the office for the social aspect or b) are managers who are resistant to change.

You forgot c) don't actually work in this kind of office environment, but think everyone should commute to work because they do.

Or D: are people who are just having fun and purposely saying things they know will rile up those who insist that WFH is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

WFH is a steaming pile of dog vomit and everyone that works from home should lose their job and live in a gutter, where the rats even can’t stand their filth.

There. That was easy 🫣🤣

*But, seriously, E: are people that have actually decent arguments for why WFH isn’t a good long term solution, and most reasonably believe that a balanced 2/3 work week is good for everyone so far.

 

[JM]

Because they are not allowed to, so they want to drag everyone with them.

Dragged deep down into the horrible stench of filtered air and free AC and coffee. With real people interactions that invigorate and revitalize human life.

Disgusting!! Who wants THAT?!
Yuck!!! 🤣

 

[steve09090]

Why does it have to be 100% Work from home or 100% in the office? Apple have come up with a reasonable solution and those against, simply are not being reasonable.

Sure, there are people who find it hard to be around other living humans, and I sympathise with them, but society works best when there is a physical connection, not a moving picture on a screen taken by a potato camera.

Apple are doing what is right for their business. Who are we to say what they are doing is right and wrong with work locations?