Apple was among the several corporations in the United States and around the world that allowed workers to work from home during the height of the COVID pandemic, but now some employees do not wish to return to work.

Apple employees are fighting back against the company’s return-to-work directive, arguing that it threatens to stifle diversity and well-being.

Apple Together is an organization that has initiated a petition for “location-flexible employment,” stating that work arrangements should be made between an employee and their “immediate management.”

Tim Cook, the chief executive officer of Apple, informed staff in and around the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, that they must return to work three days each week beginning on September 5.

This, he argued, will help preserve “the crucial face-to-face collaboration in our culture.”

According to an article in the Financial Times, Apple Together stated that this “universal directive from senior leadership” fails to recognize the “many compelling reasons” why certain staff are “happier and more productive” when working outside of customary arrangements.

According to the source, the petition is being disseminated internally before its verification and distribution of the results to executives.

During the darkest days of the COVID outbreak, Apple was one of many U.S. and international corporations that allowed workers to work from home.

However, many of these organizations are now struggling to get these employees back to the workplace.