get serious

Let's see. Invest in training for workers to develop cutting edge production and supply chain technologies. Invest in transitioning suppliers to renewable and cleaner energy sources. Sounds like something the U.S. should be interested in but Apple's not in the Military/Oil/Coal/Pharma industries so U.S. Gov doesn't care.

Apple retail is not easy by any stretch. The product knowledge piece alone has ballooned in the past 15 years from 8 product and service lines to over 20 lines with another 20 sub categories. Then you need to know  a myriad of carrier plans, financing plans and trade options. That's the sales side. Technicians just had iPods and Macs not that long ago. In fact "relationship" repair was the primary task of the 'Genius' bar back when. 
I've been a part of every roll in the store in my tenure, save for management - been there done that, not worth it to me. That said I've seen Apple Retail grow from 100 stores to over 500 stores world wide. Head counts in stores  have quintupled. Training has varied from 3 days and you're on the floor, to two weeks and weeks of mentoring. Apple Store customer experience used to compete with Computer City, Best Buy and carrier stores, they still do. But now they compete with the expectations Apple created from past visits. A tough and ever higher bar customers reset every day.
I could go on but few are still reading this... Apple is a great way station for those young people to learn business and customer skills. As a lifetime career choice, not so much. Sure there are paths to other parts of Apple, but few realize there are more Apple retail employees than all of the rest of Apple. The stock options and benefits are wonderful. But after 5 years of the Genius Bar there are many companies that will take on that experience for more pay and less pressure. Just remember this as much as you think you won't miss the customers - you will. They are the greatest (except for those that aren't)

Hill-fi’ing-larious.
so Apple employees are going to give up their benefits (they are great), their Employee Stock Purchase Plan (15% off the low every 6 months) and yearly RSUs (restricted stock grants} to works at home, yeah. No. 

The other option for developers is taking on the risk of creating their own platform and ecosystem, nurture it for 40 years, build the goodwill and customer base, compete with other multi-billion dollar companies, while exhibiting technical, design and financial discipline to become successful.

Having worked at Apple both under Steve and Tim's tenure I can say that when financial success came to Apple employees shared in that success. Employee stock purchase plan, health insurance options for part time employees, education reimbursement, COVID support, stock grants across all parts of the company not just for Cupertino. As for suppliers Apple has steadily prodded their suppliers to provide better working environments, limits on hours worked, workplace audits on hiring and employment practices.
 Few westerners realize the cultural differences that influence the employer/employee relationship in other countries. It is not just a case of employers driving the employee with a whip, many workers are coming from rural areas and are driving themselves into the ground to save a family back on the farm. China, Indonesia, Brazil, India and others are evolving much as the U.S. did in the 1890's - 1920's and they are progressing fast, faster than the U.S. I think.
Point being Apple is not perfect but has consistently driven to be a better employer and is holding their suppliers to a higher standard than most other companies. And that drive accelerated under Tim and company (except for the period during the :the asshat: before Angela). 
Thanks to Tim, all of Apple and most of all to the Apple Customers that make it all possible.