From Apple and Google to Indeed, COVID-19 variants delay the return to office

In the spring, as COVID-19 vaccination rates rose and the pandemic ebbed, employers began planning to bring workers back to the office, anticipating a broad return to some semblance of "normal," or at least traditional work life, by early September. 

But with the rise of the highly contagious Delta variant, many corporations are now putting those plans on hold and extending the work-from-home period indefinitely, out of concern for employees' health and safety. For example, iPhone maker Apple has said it will postpone calling its employees back to the office, according to reports. The tech giant is pushing its deadline for workers to resume their in-person jobs to October, at the earliest, from September, Bloomberg reported, citing people at Apple familiar with the matter. Apple did not immediately reply to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment.