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Apple investigated for backwards staff treatment

by on06 September 2021


Union bashing

The Fruity Cargo Cult Apple is being investigated after two staff members complained that they were being victimised and bullied for daring to talk about salaries in the office.

A US national labour agency is investigating two charges against Jobs' Mob.  The charge, cites harassment by a manager, reduction of responsibilities and increases in unfavourable work, among other complaints.

The 1 September charge was filed by Cher Scarlett, an Apple software engineer who said the company repeatedly stopped discussions of pay among employees.

The documents say Apple "engaged in coercive and suppressive activity that has enabled abuse and harassment of organisers of protected concerted activity".

The labour relations agency investigates all charges it receives and launches a prosecution against the employer if merited.

In recent weeks, some current and former Apple workers have critiqued company culture on Twitter, using the hashtag #AppleToo. US law allows employees to openly discuss certain topics, such as working conditions.

In addition, workers have engaged in a heated debate on the messaging platform Slack about Apple's move to scan US customer phones and computers for child sex abuse images.

Scarlett wrote that Apple employees began a pay equity survey in April, but the company blocked them, citing privacy concerns.

It also halted subsequent surveys, including one that aimed to address the privacy issues, Scarlett added.

In late August, Apple denied employees' requests to create a Slack channel to discuss pay equity, which Scarlett said was "the last straw" that led her to file the complaint.

Gjovik said after Apple started investigating her complaints, as well as accusations of sexism, her managers began re-assigning her work to colleagues and loading her up with undesirable tasks.

The company put her on paid administrative leave in early August. She said Apple had not finished its investigation.

Gjovik said she felt encouraged after seeing more employees speaking out about the company's culture in recent weeks.

"The biggest obstacle for making progress at Apple is the culture of secrecy and alienation", she said.

Last modified on 06 September 2021
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