A group of Apple employees operating as a “solidarity union” called Apple Together has launched a petition against the company’s return-to-office mandate.
Apple has ordered its employees at its Cupertino headquarters to return to their desks from September. Apple CEO Tim Cook says employees will have to work at least three days a week from the company’s offices starting September 5.
According to Apple Together, the group that represents Apple employees, Apple’s office decision ignores “the unique demands of each job role” and ignore evidence that suggests remote work benefits productivity, diversity, inclusion, and work-life balance.
“We believe that Apple should encourage, not prohibit, flexible work to build a more diverse and successful company where we can feel comfortable to ‘think different’ together,” the petition from Apple Together states.
Apple has come under criticism for the poor timing of its return deadline.
Apple is however in a tight spot as the company works to launch new products such as the iPhone 14 and new Apple Watch models with new iPads and Mac models to follow in October.