Apple is giving remote working a try as it attempts to control coronavirus

New Apple Store Taipei Today At Apple (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

Apple is doing its bit to try and halt the spread of coronavirus.
It already told Apple Park employees to stay home.
Now it's encouraging people around the globe to do the same where possible.

Following the news that Apple told Apple Park employees to work from home where possible, Tim Cook has now told worldwide employees to do the same. Apple is allowing people to work remotely in an effort to help prevent coronavirus spreading,

Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees at Apple's international offices to "please feel free to work remotely if your job allows" according to a Bloomberg report.

Apple is also set to try and "reduce human density" as it cuts the number of people attending stores for tech support and training.

Beyond encouraging work from home, Cook said Apple is "making a major effort to reduce human density and ensure those teams that are on-site can do their work safely and with peace of mind."Apple is implementing "new efforts to maximize interpersonal space and continuing, enhanced deep cleanings," according to the memo. This includes reducing human density and occupancy at Apple classes and Genius Bar appointments at stores.

Cook also noted that hourly workers would continue to receive pay if they're at an office that has closed.

While Apple confirmed the memo to Bloomberg, Jon Prosser appears to have managed to get his hands on it in its entirety. We can't confirm it's validity, but it does match up with Bloomberg's reporting.

As originally reported by @markgurman, Tim Cook sent a memo to employees telling them they can work from home this week. Calls Coronavirus situation “challenging” and “unprecedented”.

Thanks to one of my sources, here’s the full memo, dated 3/07/2020: pic.twitter.com/cp2zcmkqQdAs originally reported by @markgurman, Tim Cook sent a memo to employees telling them they can work from home this week. Calls Coronavirus situation “challenging” and “unprecedented”.

Thanks to one of my sources, here’s the full memo, dated 3/07/2020: pic.twitter.com/cp2zcmkqQd— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) March 8, 2020 March 8, 2020

Apple and other tech companies continue to take steps to try and get the coronavirus outbreak under control, as does its international partners.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.

Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.