Apple reportedly asks US staff to share their vaccination standing – Engadget

Apple has requested all of its US staff to share their vaccination standing voluntarily. In keeping with Bloomberg, the corporate just lately despatched out a memo requesting employees, whether or not they at present work out of an workplace or not, to share that data by September seventeenth. Apple reportedly plans to make use of the info it collects to tell its ongoing COVID-19 response. 

Bloomberg experiences the corporate advised staff it could hold their vaccine standing “confidential and safe” by aggregating the knowledge however stated that might change sooner or later. “It’s attainable your vaccination standing could also be utilized in an identifiable method, together with different details about your basic work setting akin to your constructing location, if we decide or, whether it is required that, this data is critical with a purpose to guarantee a wholesome and secure work setting,” Apple stated within the memo, in line with the outlet. It isn’t clear what repercussions if any an worker will face if they don’t present their vaccination standing by the deadline.

We’ve reached out to the corporate for remark.

Unlike Google, Apple at present doesn’t require staff to be vaccinated earlier than they’ll come to the workplace. Nonetheless, the corporate has began to nudge its employees in that route extra forcefully. For instance, it just lately started a marketing campaign encouraging employees to get their shot.

The corporate’s request, and the admission that the knowledge staff share with it could be utilized in an identifiable method, come as Apple faces rising scrutiny over the way it handles the privateness of its employees. A current report from The Verge detailed a number of the firm’s insurance policies on that entrance. For example, one such rule prohibits staff from wiping their work units earlier than returning them to the corporate. This newest coverage could additional gasoline these considerations.