Of the many reasons to want more workplace flexibility, Apple employees have found the dumbest.
In an open letter to the company’s senior management, a group of 200 employees said that Apple’s push to get everyone back in the office on a hybrid basis would make the tech giant “younger, whiter, more male-dominated, more neuro-normative, more able-bodied.”
Apple isn’t even asking its employees to return to the office full time. Rather, they’re asking employees to show up just three days a week and work from home the other two days. But this expectation is too much for the “Apple Together” group, which alleged the schedule is “only driven by fear” and would “lead to privileges deciding who can work for Apple, not who’d be the best fit.”
“Stop trying to control how often you can see us in the office,” they wrote. “Trust us, we know how each of our small contributions helps Apple succeed and what’s required to do so. Our direct managers trust us and in many cases would happily let us work in a more flexible setup. And why wouldn’t they, we’ve successfully done so for the last two years. Why don’t you?”
There are plenty of reasons to value working from home. And there are plenty of reasons that make going into an office worthwhile. One would think a hybrid schedule that allows employees to do both would fit everyone’s fancy.
Apparently not.
At the very least, Apple’s employees should be honest about why they oppose a return to in-person work. Just admit the commute is too much effort or that you sold all your office attire for athleisure wear or that the idea of being held accountable by in-person collaboration is too much.
But alas, the normal complaints of racism and sexism will have to suffice.
