"Apple employees are responding with outrage after CEO Tim Cook rolled out a new mandate directing them to return to the office at least three days a week in September. In a lengthy letter that began circulating for signatures on Friday, Apple employees complain that Cook's newly announced policy is 'not sufficient in addressing many of our needs' ..." Keith Griffith, Daily Mail, June 5, 2021.
For Post-COVID the return-to-the-office issue has lots of models in tech. Apple is mandating the three days a week - at a minimum. But at Twitter and Facebook, employees can work from home forever. Google has designated that employees must be back in office 20% of time.
The question is: Will the Apple revolt be contagious?
The law firm industry isn't a monolith. And even inside one law firm - in which there are myriad "fiefdoms"- there are all kinds of attitudes about just about everything.
Some ambitious lawyers might be eager to return to the office for the opportunity for in-person facetime. Also, being able to pop into a partner office and ask about a strategy or point of law can provide just-in-time development.
Others may prefer not returning to what they experience as "the pressure-cooker." Or, they could be saving big money not having to hire childcare. Anyway, soon enough the kids might be back in school.
And, from fiefdom to fiefdom, even within the same law firms lawyers may differ widely in their mindset about returning to the office.
The return-to-the-office is not the only problem Cook is struggling with. There has been a pile-on of other issues. As I report on Law and More Apple has been hit with:
- Lawsuit "Epic Games v. Apple." The judge was rough on Apple in questioning about alleged limiting competition in the app business.
- Mandated appearance by Cook himself before Congress about alleged antitrust matters.
- Developers' complaints that Apple takes advantage of them.
- The strong possibility of federal and state antitrust lawsuits.
But law firms, which are short on talent currently, could face their own kinds of crises if lawyers leverage return-to-office as one of many beefs. It's a sellers' market.
Small changes can trigger big success in your career and your business communications. Swing by for a complimentary consultation (janegenova374@gmail.com)
Comments