Tim Cook allowing office-based employees to work from home

Outdoor seating area with wooden tables and chairs under a modern pergola structure with an open slatted roof. Office-based employees are engaged in conversation or working on laptops, enjoying the sunlight streaming through the slats. Tall trees and a building are visible in the distance.

Appleโ€™s CEO Tim Cook has told employees at most of the companyโ€™s offices around the world that they can work from home during the coronavirus outbreak, should they feel unwell or want to protect themselves and their families from the potential spread of the virus.

The company has also announced new policies in light of the outbreak.

From March 9 to March 13, employees have been told to โ€œfeel free to work remotely if your job allows,โ€ and that updates on longer-term working situations would be provided at the end of the week.

On Friday, the company encouraged its employees in California and Seattle to work from home where possible, and now this has been extended to all of the companyโ€™s corporate locations, including the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and South Korea.

This does not affect Apple Retail Stores, though policies have been put in place to help those employees.

Indeed, Apple is now deep cleaning Apple Stores around the world, and itโ€™s limiting the number of spaces at its Today at Apple sessions and Genius Bar to reduce the spread.

The company has also promised to pay hourly contract workers their usual wages, whatever the outcome of the virus. An employee that enters self-quarantine, for example, wonโ€™t have to worry about paying their bills, encouraging people to do the right thing for society.

A report from Bloomberg added that the company was working on managerial changes to help reduce the spread of the virus amongst those who still had to come into their offices.

Thereโ€™s still no word on WWDC, but with several other high-profile technology conferences canceled in recent weeks, it now seems more than likely that Apple will halt its annual event, or move the event online and allow people to see new macOS and iOS builds from home.

Do you think Apple is doing enough? Let us know your thoughts on this on social media and check back soon for more news and rumors on everything Apple, as and when we get them.

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