Apple has not yet issued a mandate comparable to Google's, but it is tightening its COVID-19 protocols. Bloomberg reports that the tech giant will require all employees who work from home to test for COVID-19. Bloomberg reported in September that Apple had asked employees to disclose their vaccination status. People who refuse to disclose their vaccination status will have to be tested daily, while office workers who have been vaccinated will only need to have rapid testing once per week.
However, the company's retail store employees won't have to undergo daily testing despite being in consumer-facing positions. Staff members who are not vaccinated must be tested twice per week. As Apples office workers, only vaccinated employees will need to be subject to weekly rapid testing. Although it is not clear if the tech giant will issue a COVID-19 mandate, the Biden administration gave federal contractors until December 8th to insure that all employees were vaccinated against the virus. Bloomberg points out that Apple sells products for the US government.
Apple is giving employees until October 24th to show proof of vaccination. The company could then implement the new rules on November 1st. Employees who are not vaccinated will be required to take quick tests at home from Apple stores and offices. They then have to report the results via an internal app.
Editor's Note: This article first appeared on Engadget.
