Apple pushes back its return-to-office indefinitely, temporarily closes 3 stores over Omicron variant: reports

• Apple staff were set to return to the office in February but are now returning at a "date yet to be determined."
• CEO Tim Cook said the move is due to a global rise in COVID-19 cases and the spread of the Omicron variant.

Apple is pushing back its return-to-office date indefinitely, Bloomberg and The New York Times reported, citing an internal memo from CEO Tim Cook.

Cook said the move is due to a global increase in COVID-19 cases and the spread of the Omicron variant, according to the reports. Apple staff were set to return to the office in February but Cook said it's now on a "date yet to be determined," according to the reports.

Cook also announced a $1,000 bonus in the memo for employees for work-from-home needs, according to the reports. Retail workers will get the bonus as well, Bloomberg added.

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Apple's delay of its back-to-office plan follows those at other major tech companies — including Google and Facebook parent company Meta — due to uncertainty over the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Apple has also temporarily closed three stores, in Miami, Annapolis, and Ottawa amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. According to its website, the Miami store is set to reopen on Friday and the Ottawa and Annapolis stores will resume operations on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Apple reinstated a mask mandate for customers and employees at all US stores.

Apple did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.