Apple Sends Care Packages to Employees Stranded in China's Wenzhou City and Hubei Province by Coronavirus

Apple has sent gift packages that include an iPad, face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and more, to its employees stranded in Wenzhou and Hubei due to the coronavirus, according to details shared on Chinese social network Weibo.

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While over half of Apple Stores have reopened on shortened hours in China, many retail, corporate, and manufacturing staff remain at home. Families who have received the care packages are said to be "moved" by Apple's efforts.

A letter enclosed in each parcel says that the iPads are provided for children's online learning or to help pass the time during the "prolonged stay at home."

Dear Colleagues in Hubei and Wenzhou,

We hope this note finds you heathy and well. Since the last communication with you, we understand that you are all staying strong in this challenging time. We understand the difficulties you are facing and would like to provide our best support to you and your families. Hubei and the city of Wuhan have been hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, which has now claimed 2,835 lives in China.

We are sending our best wishes to you, on behalf of the entire Apple Team, together with another CareKit for you and your families. In the kit, you will find comfort items and an iPad which can be used to facilitate children's online learning or help pass the time during the prolonged stay at home.

In addition, a series of counselling and consultation services have been prepared especially for you to help you through this time.

At Apple's annual shareholder meeting on February 26, CEO Tim Cook commented on the prioritization of employee health and safety amidst the challenges of the outbreak. Last month he outlined plans to donate to coronavirus relief efforts in China, and in February, when Apple announced that it would not reach its March revenue goals, Cook said the company was more than doubling its donation.

Apple's stock price has seen major fluctuations in recent days due to coronavirus causing uncertainty in the global markets.

Top Rated Comments

cmaier Avatar
47 months ago
Struggling to figure out how the usual naysayers will turn this into a bad thing.
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jjjlevin Avatar
47 months ago
Very cool, thanks Tim.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kohlson Avatar
47 months ago
I have worked for several large multinationals. I don't recall a gesture such as this.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brucemr Avatar
47 months ago
It’s a great humanitarian gesture to the employees. Its also smart business, including PR. Nothing wrong with being both.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Metrosey Avatar
47 months ago

Struggling to figure out how the usual naysayers will turn this into a bad thing.
Perhaps something along the lines of this

"Nescafe coffee? Apple was valued at over $1 trillion and they ship them Nescafe? Apple really gave them low quality products. Not only that, there's so not enough there, they should have given everyone a 16 inch MacBook Pro and 6 months worth of food/drink, it's just not good enough and is embarrassing"

Does that sound about right?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gorms Avatar
47 months ago
Wow. That's a pretty respectful and cool way of treating your staff. How many staff are getting these? I mean, the pessimist would and could say something like "great PR, but slave labour in factories" or "just clearing out all the channel of old iPads they now won't sell during the pandemic so they can sell the new one", or something. But, most companies in the world wouldn't do this, a lot of companies would (and will) demand you drag yourself to work.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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