Apple appears to be holding firm in its position on hybrid working, with employees required to work in-office at least three days a week from September.

According to reports from The Verge, a video recording of Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice-president of retail and people, revealed the company’s intention to continue with its proposed hybrid working model.

“We believe that in-person collaboration is essential to our culture and our future,” O’Brien is reported to have said.

“If we take a moment to reflect on our unbelievable product launches this past year, the products and the launch execution were built upon the base of years of work that we did when we were all together in-person.”

Apple’s working policy has caused friction with employees as some question the need for in-office shifts moving away from the pandemic.

In a letter penned to staff earlier this month, CEO Tim Cook informed employees that Apple intended to implement the new hybrid working model.

As part of the plans, employees will be required to attend offices on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. At the time, Cook noted that remote work options would be made available on Wednesdays and Fridays.

“For all that we’ve been able to achieve while many of us have been separated, the truth is that there has been something essential missing from this past year; each other,” Cook wrote.

“Video conference calling has narrowed the distance between us, to be sure, but there are things it simply cannot replicate,” he added.

In the wake of Cook’s comments, Apple employees responded with a letter to the chief executive which aired growing frustration over the changes.

Notably, the letter suggested that some employees had quit their roles due to the policy changes, while others were considering their position at the company.

“We would like to take the opportunity to communicate a growing concern among our colleagues that Apple’s remote/location-flexible work policy, and the communication around it, have already forced some of our colleagues to quit,” the letter stated.

“Without the inclusivity that flexibility brings, many of us feel we have to choose between either a combination of our families, our well-being, and being empowered to do our best work, or being a part of Apple,” it added.

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According to The Verge, Apple is now “essentially denying” remote working requests from staff and that decisions on remote working will be made “on a case-by-case basis”.

Additionally, new remote working positions will also requite “executive approval”, the publication reported.