A group of Apple workers is rebelling against the tech giant’s call for staff to return to the office next month.

The workers claim they are “happier and more productive” with flexible arrangements. 

The group is circulating a petition after Apple chief executive Tim Cook said employees at its headquarters in Cupertino, California must be back at their desks for three days a week from Sept 5.

A spokesman for the workers’ group Apple Together said: “This uniform mandate from senior leadership does not consider the unique demands of each job role nor the diversity of individuals.” 

The group objected that for more than two years, staff “have performed exceptional work, flexibly, both outside and inside traditional office environments”.

The fightback is the latest flashpoint in efforts by some bosses to persuade workers to resume normal pre-pandemic working patterns. 

Tesla boss Elon Musk and some Wall Street banking chiefs have been among those adopting tough stances as they try to return office life to normal. Musk said in an email to the electric car maker’s employees in June: “If you don’t show up, we will assume you have resigned.”

By contrast, streaming service Spotify has a “work from anywhere” policy. In the UK, recent figures showed that staff were still only going to the office an average of 1.5 days a week, with just 13% coming in on a Friday - but there are signs that as the economic tide turns, the pressure to be present in the work place may increase.

The Apple workers group said: “We believe that Apple should encourage, not prohibit, flexible work.”

Apple was contacted for comment last night

 - TNS