Apple drops mask requirements for corporate employees at ‘most locations’

Apple has dropped its mask requirements for corporate employees in “most locations,” according to an internal memo obtained the edge.

Apple’s COVID-19 response team on Monday told company employees that the company is updating existing protocols “in light of current conditions,” and urged employees to continue wearing a face mask if they feel more comfortable doing so.

Apple also noted in the email that “everyone’s personal circumstances are different” and reminded company employees to respect each individual’s decision to wear a mask or not.

Apple is changing its operating policies throughout the pandemic to align with local regulations and to mitigate risks to employees and customers in areas where COVID is spreading.

For example, Apple in March eased its mask requirements for US retail employees due to a drop in Covid-19 cases and a relaxation of local mandates.

However, the latest move comes amid a new wave of infections in California that was first identified in the Bay Area, due to the highly contagious Omicron BA.5 variant.

Apple continues to implement a mixed home/office work-at-home policy for corporate employees in the United States. Employees began returning to their offices on April 11 for one day a week, ending the two-year work-from-home policy that Apple implemented during the pandemic.

Apple originally planned to place employees in the office for three days of the week by May 23, but the company reversed the decision after the number of infections increased, imposing a two-day condition on May 4.

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