On April 11, Apple began a phased return to work for its employees, but the decision hasn't gone over well with some. While many employees protested Apple's request that they return to the office after two years of working from home, others believe in making a great gesture to make a message. Due to Apple's Hybrid Work Pilot Program, Apple's top Machine Learning officer has resigned.
Ian Goodfellow, the director of Apple's Machine Learning, has resigned. He began his four-year tenure with Apple in April 2019 as part of the company's Special Projects Group. Goodfellow previously worked for Google and is known for his innovative ideas.
Even though the company's culture emphasises in-person cooperation and that the creation of new hardware items is best handled by on-site staff, Apple was one of the first corporations to notify its employees they may work from home in March 2020. After multiple delays caused by COVID-19, Apple CEO Tim Cook devised a plan in March to get staff back to work.
"In the United States, we'll begin the phased approach to the hybrid pilot on April11, with teams coming to the office one day a week at first, then two days a week beginning in the third week," Cook said in an internal memo acquired by Bloomberg. "This four-week transition period will now be extended to six weeks."
Beginning May 23, I will work three days a week in the office, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and two days remotely, Wednesday and Friday. However, according to an open letter published last week, the idea failed to impress hundreds of people.
"You've described the Hybrid Working Pilot decision as balancing the 'desire to commune in person' with the value of flexible work," the letter reads. "However, it is only motivated by fear and does not recognize flexible employment. Fear of the future of work, worker autonomy, and the loss of control."
Apple has remained silent while the uprising continues.
