A new report from Bloomberg Today it offers additional information on Apple’s plans to fine-tune operations as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens in many areas. The report explains that Apple will vary its approach worldwide based on local conditions.
In the United States, Apple has told its employees that it does not anticipate a full return to physical offices “before the end of the year.” However, in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions, Apple says it “anticipates that the full resumption will take place in the coming months based on local conditions” for “many” offices.
Apple also continues to adjust its retail operations in the United States. The company has closed many of its retail stores due to increases in COVID-19 cases, as we have been following in detail here. In light of that, Apple continues to encourage retail staff to sign up and work from home through Apple’s Retail at Home program. In a video shared with retail employees over the weekend, Apple executive Deirdre O’Brien said:
“If your store is closed, sign up for Retail at Home, talk to your manager, because we really need to make sure that we change our equipment to greet our customers remotely right now. We may need to work remotely for a period of time. “
O’Brien emphasized that some customers have had “significant wait times” when seeking support for their devices:
“This is not the experience we want to have for our clients,” added O’Brien. “So we really want to make sure that we are moving to where our clients are, to help them through this difficult time. As you know, people really depend on their devices, especially right now. “
For stores that are open, Apple is also planning a new Memoji feature:
In the video, O’Brien also told staff that starting this month, they will receive lanyards with name tags to use in the store that they can customize with their own Memoiji, Apple’s system for users to create virtual avatars. of themselves on the iPhone. This will help make retail staff more recognizable while wearing face masks, he said.
Finally, the report says Apple has also started a COVID-19 test program that allows remotely working corporate and retail employees to take COVID-19 tests at home. Through the program, tests will be sent to employees, and the kit can then be sent to a test site for processing.
Today’s report Bloomberg It occurs when Apple’s home state of California has announced a major setback in its reopening process due to an increase in COVID-19. California is closing interior operations statewide for restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, zoos, and game rooms and bars. In the hardest hit counties, California is also closing indoor operations for gyms, houses of worship, noncritical offices, beauty salons, hair salons, and shopping malls.
As of now, Apple stores in and around San Francisco, Sacramento, and San José remain open again, but that may very soon change.
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