WebProNews

Tag: omicron variant

  • Apple Delays Return to Office Indefinitely, Gives Employees $1,000

    Apple Delays Return to Office Indefinitely, Gives Employees $1,000

    Apple has joined the list of companies pushing back its return-to-office date as the omicron variants threatens a new wave of infections.

    Apple was one of many companies looking to have employees return to the office early next year. Unfortunately, the omicron COVID variant is gaining traction and threatens to spark a new wave of cases. This latest turn in the fight against COVID has forced companies, including Apple, to rethink their previous plans.

    NBC News reporter Zoë Schiffer broke the news on Twitter.

    Schiffer also clarified that all retail employees will be receiving the $1,000 bonus. 

    Apple has been one of the companies most intent on getting employees back to the office. The fact that it is now changing course and leaving the return-to-office date open-ended speaks volumes about the state of the workplace and remote work.

  • Omicron Delays Google’s Back-to-Office Date

    Omicron Delays Google’s Back-to-Office Date

    Google is delaying its back-to-office date again, this time as a result of the omicron COVID-19 variant.

    Like most tech companies, Google has repeatedly delayed its back-to-office date as the pandemic has continued. The company last postponed its date in late August, moving it from mid-October to January 10.

    According to CNBC, Chris Rackow, the company’s security VP, sent an email to employees telling them the the company would wait until the new year to make decisions about a return to the office. Rackow says the company will be looking to determine when it can safely return to a “stable, long-term working environment.” As a result, no employees will be required to switch to a hybrid workflow by the January date, as previously planned.

    Rackow didn’t specifically mention the omicron variant, but Business Insider had earlier reported that Google cited the variant when postponing its back-to-office date in specific regions that are already seeing the variant spread.

    Health officials are concerned by the omicron variant because of the high number mutations it has, leading some experts to believe it may be better at evading immunity — both from previous infections and from vaccines.

    If omicron becomes as much of a threat as experts fear, it’s a safe bet Google won’t be the only company pushing back a return to the office.