Apple Workplace Rules Violate US Labour Law, Agency Finds

Apple maintains office insurance policies that unlawfully discourage staff from discussing working circumstances, a US labour company has discovered.

The Nationwide Labor Relations Board will situation a grievance concentrating on the insurance policies and claiming Apple executives made feedback that stymied employee organising until the corporate settles first, an company official mentioned on Monday in an electronic mail reviewed by Reuters.

The official had despatched the e-mail to Ashley Gjovik, a former Apple senior engineering supervisor who filed complaints towards the corporate in 2021.

The NLRB investigates fees filed by staff and unions and decides whether or not to situation formal complaints towards corporations. The company can search to strike down office insurance policies and require employers to inform staff of authorized violations.

Apple didn’t reply to a request for remark. The corporate has mentioned it takes employee complaints significantly and completely investigates them.

An NLRB spokeswoman didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Gjovik in an electronic mail on Tuesday mentioned she hoped the event will spur extra Apple staff to talk up about working circumstances and to organise.

In her complaints, Gjovik mentioned varied Apple guidelines, together with these regarding confidentiality and surveillance insurance policies, deter staff from discussing points resembling pay fairness and intercourse discrimination with one another and the media.

Gjovik additionally cited a 2021 electronic mail from Apple Chief Govt Tim Cook dinner that allegedly sought to cease staff from chatting with the press and mentioned “individuals who leak confidential data don’t belong right here.”

Many tech corporations have strict confidentiality insurance policies designed to guard commerce secrets and techniques.

US labour regulation prohibits insurance policies that might discourage staff from exercising their proper to band collectively to enhance working circumstances.

Apple is going through a number of pending NLRB complaints, together with one claiming the tech large unlawfully required staff at an Atlanta retail retailer to attend anti-union conferences. Apple has denied wrongdoing.

© Thomson Reuters 2023