Apple tells staff they must work in office for most of the week

Apple has told employees that they must get back in the office for at least three days every week.

Like many companies, it is attempting to figure out what role its offices have after remote working prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apple previously attempted to get staff back in the office in June 2021, only to have its plans foiled by another coronavirus wave.

In a memo sent to employees by chief executive Tim Cook on Monday, the company stressed that “in-person collaboration” is “essential to our culture”.

For staff near the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, Mr Cook said that Tuesday and Thursday are essential in-office days.

Team managers are also to designate another day for each of their staff to come in and work together, according to the memo seen by the Financial Times.

The plans are only a pilot, the memo said.

“We also know that we still have a lot to learn. And we are committed to listening, adapting and growing together in the weeks and months ahead,” it said.

Facebook was one of the first companies to announce it was going to permanently embrace remote working once the pandemic ended, back in May 2020.

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Elon Musk has told Tesla employees to return to the office or leave the company, according to a leaked memo that circulated on social media.

“Anyone who wishes to do remote work must be in the office for a minimum (and I mean minimum) of 40 hours per week or depart Tesla,” it said.

Twitter staff have relatively free rein to decide where they work at present.

When Mr Musk spoke to them before attempting to pull out of the deal to acquire that company, he said he would allow “exceptional” staff to work from home.