Apple Reportedly Asking Employees Their Vaccination Status in Certain Locations

Apple is reportedly asking some employees to provide their up-to-date status on whether or not they are vaccinated. This comes at a time when CEO Tim Cook is gauging the current landscape before staff members are required to return to the office.

On Twitter, The Verge‘s Zoe Schiffer stated that although it’s unclear whether or not Apple will require its staff to be fully vaccinated prior to returning to the office, the company is inquiring certain staff members about their vaccination status. Employees are being asked whether or not they have received their full COVID-19 vaccination, have a partial dose, or are not vaccinated

Here’s the guidance for Apple employees: “Apple is asking our team members in certain locations to share their current vaccination status. You can confidentially share whether you’re fully vaccinated, have had a partial dose, are not vaccinated, or do not wish to share.”

— Zoë Schiffer (@ZoeSchiffer) July 29, 2021

Staff members are welcomed to not share the information. However, Schiffer reports that a memo on the internal HR site states that if the employee does not share their status, the status will be assumed to be unvaccinated”. Employees are also told that if they are not fully vaccinated and are required to work on-site, “additional health and safety protocols may apply.”

From Apple’s internal HR site: “If you don’t provide your vaccination status, your vaccination status is assumed to be unvaccinated…If you’re not fully vaccinated and working onsite in an Apple building, additional health and safety protocols may apply.”

— Zoë Schiffer (@ZoeSchiffer) July 29, 2021

Last month, Cook told employees that the company would be delaying its transition to a hybrid work model given the surge in COVID-19 cases in the US. Employees have been told that plans have been delayed until October at the very least.