Apple employees won't return to the office until early 2021, CEO Tim Cook says

• Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company would extend its work-from-home policy for US workers until early 2021, per a Bloomberg report.
• If that timeline were to be extended further, it would depend on "the success with a vaccine, success with therapeutics," and other conditions, Cook said.
• The smartphone maker joins fellow tech titan Google in extending its remote-work policy — Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees on Monday that they should expect to work from home through at least June 30, 2021.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company's employees can continue working from home until early 2021.

Cook laid out the company's plans to extend its work-from-home policy in a Thursday interview with Bloomberg.

"To go beyond that, it would depend on the success with a vaccine, success with therapeutics," and other factors, Cook told the outlet. The CEO also compared office reopening plans to the company's strategy in reopening its retail stores. He said the "accordion" process would allow the company to reopen and reclose offices as needed depending on updated data.

Complimentary Tech Event

Transform talent with learning that works

Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

In late May, Apple reportedly began asking employees to start returning to work that month and through June, with even more expected to go back into the office in July.

Cook's comment comes days after news surfaced of Google's intention to extend its work-from-home policy until summer 2021. Neither companies has gone as far as Square and Twitter, which both announced they're allowing employees to work remotely on a permanent basis if they choose.