Bloomberg reports that unvaccinated Apple employees or those that have not shared their vaccination status with Apple will need to have a COVID-19 test whenever they come into the office.
While the move stops short of requiring a vaccine to return to work. However, an unvaccinated employee going into the office on a daily basis would need to be tested each day of the week. Apple corporate employees that have been vaccinated will need to do a rapid test once per week.
As for retail staff, unvaccinated employees will need to test twice per week instead of on a daily basis, and vaccinated retail employees will need to take a rapid COVID-19 test once per week.
Employees will be able to use at-home rapid tests that can be picked up from Apple’s corporate offices and retail stores. The tests take 15 minutes and employees will be required to self-report the results.
Although Apple has declined to follow the lead of other firms and doesn’t require employees to get vaccinated, it may soon be required to change its rules. The Biden administration is requiring all federal contractors to require their employees to be vaccinated by December 8. Apple sells products to the government.
Apple employees will be required to provide their vaccination status by October 24, and they’ll also need to provide proof in the near future. The new requirements go into effect on November 1. Apple plans for employees to return to the office at least three days per week starting in January.
