Apple to give retail, hourly workers with coronavirus symptoms unlimited sick leave

As part of continuing efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, Apple is offering hourly workers and retail employees unlimited sick leave if they exhibit symptoms of the virus, according to a report on Monday.

According to 9to5Mac, workers suffering from symptoms indicative of the new coronavirus are able to take leave without providing the usual doctor's note to management. Whether the policy applies worldwide or is restricted to U.S. operations is unknown.

In any case, the decision to keep employees out of the office or Apple Stores, with pay, is a deft move that enables Apple to protect both its customers and workers during the fast-moving crisis.

For now, Apple's retail locations in the U.S. will remain open, though the company on Monday canceled upcoming Today at Apple sessions in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle. Similar action was taken in Italy last week following store closures in China.

In addition to closing retail outlets and offices in heavily impacted areas, Apple over the weekend began to encourage employees based in San Francisco, as well as France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland and the UK, to work from home as an "extra precaution." Last Thursday, the County of Santa Clara's public health department issued new guidance concerning COVID-19 and urged tech giants in Silicon Valley to suspend nonessential employee travel, minimize close employee contact at work, cancel large meetings and conferences, and urge employees to stay home when they are sick.

For its part, Apple early this month restricted travel to South Korea and Italy. The company also pulled out of the now-canceled SXSW festival, where it was slated to premiere three new Apple TV+ originals.

19 Comments

apple ][ 9225 comments · 13 Years

About 4 years ago

Hopefully they confirm that the people actually do have corona virus, otherwise I am sure that there will be sneaky people taking advantage of the situation. Anybody who believes that they have it should be tested for it, and the truth shall be known.

spice-boy 1450 comments · 8 Years

Oh no! Apple has become communist, no wait, marxist... err socialist.... unAmerican..... panic!

Hopefully other big corps will follow suit. A friend of mine lives in Milano and she has women who cleans her apartment. The women came this week in tears because my friend is her only customer who will let her work during this pandemic. Workers like this women who many people depend upon will be hit the hardest during this disaster so please stop complaining your Apple stock took a hit, it will recover while some people will have nothing to feed their families.

spice-boy said:

apple ][ said:

Hopefully they confirm that the people actually do have corona virus, otherwise I am sure that there will be sneaky people taking advantage of the situation. Anybody who believes that they have it should be tested for it, and the truth shall be known.

Why don't you volunteer to visit their homes to make sure they are sick. What no? Then keep your nonsense to yourself.

Why would I volunteer? I'm not a health worker and I don't do charity work.

I don't believe that verifying somebody's claims can be called nonsense. There are always scrupulous people who will take advantage of any situation and with all of the hysteria going around and an easily manipulated and gullible population, I believe that my concerns are valid.