Damning article regarding the treatment of Apple employees

[Unregistered 4U]

Also, this type of article, which MacRumors absolutely knows about but won’t report on, confirms to me that MacRumors is basically an Apple salesperson. Whitewash most topics and enjoy their ad revenue.

Well, Apple has 147,000 employees.

They only talked to
———-16
which would be 0.010884%
of current employees.

However, since they didn’t clarify how many were current employees, as far as we know, it could be 1 current employee and 15 former employees (= and even smaller percentage of employees).

No one trying to make money on the internet is above clickbait, but maybe this was just a little TOO clickbaity for MR?

It should be taken with about as much seriousness as an article written speaking glowingly about Apple’s employee relations from ONLY 16 “current and former employees”.

I guarantee I can find 0.010884% of employees at pretty much any company that would be willing to go on the record of horrible things happening to them under one manager or another (regardless of if they’re true) while they were just trying their best to be a model employee.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

From the article:

“You see people go really deep in that stuff when they want to get promoted. It’s all just pandering.”

Part of the issue is pay. Apple’s retail employees make on average between $19 and $25 an hour in the United States, according to Glassdoor. That’s good for the retail industry, but can be grating for employees who want to build a career at the tech giant. Some say that after staying at the company for six years, they’re making less than $21 an hour.

These folks that want to be promoted do allll this pandering. Well, I’M not gonna stoop to that level.
-6 years later-
WHY HAVEN’T I BEEN PROMOTED????!!!?

 

[mebehere]

Sounds all normal to me. Typical American corp culture.

But wouldn’t you rather have truth, transparency and a company you could believe in, especially when that company espouses absolute dedication for the global good?

I’ve worked low-level customer service jobs. It’s brutal. But I’ve never experienced the stress Apple employees endure. It’s inhumane what these employees are asked to do in the time they’re allotted to do it. Every customer service situation is different.

It’s all in the article.

 

[mebehere]

From the article:

These folks that want to be promoted do allll this pandering. Well, I’M not gonna stoop to that level.
-6 years later-
WHY HAVEN’T I BEEN PROMOTED????!!!?

I worked in a marketing department for a major corporation. Whenever the CMO came over to our area, everyone put on smiles and laughs while I was sitting there thinking WTF? Obvious pandering.

But I also thought to myself, doesn’t the CMO know it was fake? He seemed to like it. I just don’t understand people.

 

[mpavilion]

“When I saw Tim Cook was saying he’s worth nearly a billion dollars and he plans to give all of that away before he dies, I thought, ‘Well ****, he could start with us in AppleCare,’” a current employee says.

That’s darkly funny. Some sad/maddening stories in the article for sure.

 

[mpavilion]

…and good reporting on this other Verge piece, about corporate culture issues. I’m glad these were highlighted here… if MacRumors has glossed over them, that’s pretty absurd!

 

[Fred Zed]

But wouldn’t you rather have truth, transparency and a company you could believe in, especially when that company espouses absolute dedication for the global good?

I’ve worked low-level customer service jobs. It’s brutal. But I’ve never experienced the stress Apple employees endure. It’s inhumane what these employees are asked to do in the time they’re allotted to do it. Every customer service situation is different.

It’s all in the article.

Your first paragraph again sounds a lot like a typical American corporation, BS. You’re not talking BS I’m referring to what they typically claim they are.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I worked in a marketing department for a major corporation. Whenever the CMO came over to our area, everyone put on smiles and laughs while I was sitting there thinking WTF? Obvious pandering.

But I also thought to myself, doesn’t the CMO know it was fake? He seemed to like it. I just don’t understand people.

It’s a “social cues” thing. A lot of folks don’t have the right kind of makeup to understand them. However, I wouldn’t begrudge the folks that do understand them.

…and good reporting on this other Verge piece, about corporate culture issues. I’m glad these were highlighted here… if MacRumors has glossed over them, that’s pretty absurd!

That story is about retail employees that effectively had no job due to covid and stores closing and Apple, rather than sacking them all, created new jobs for them so they could work from home and still be paid. As stores started opening again, many didn’t want to go back to their retail jobs, so the complaint was basically, “It’s not MY fault you created a job out of thin air JUST so I could get paid instead of letting me go without a check. I’m NOT going back to that retail job!”

Which lends credence to the idea that Apple should have just cut them and let them fend for themselves. Would it have been more evil to let them go as soon as the retail stores closed or after they refuse to take the retail job that’s waiting for them?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Your first paragraph again sounds a lot like a typical American corporation, BS. You’re not talking BS I’m referring to what they typically claim they are.

And, considering Verge only talked to 16 people (some of which aren’t even employees anymore), getting riled up over that story… well, I guess some folks have a daily “mad” allowance that they HAVE to use and 16 disgruntled employees is just the ticket for today

 

[Fred Zed]

And, considering Verge only talked to 16 people (some of which aren’t even employees anymore), getting riled up over that story… well, I guess some folks have a daily “mad” allowance that they HAVE to use and 16 disgruntled employees is just the ticket for today

😂, the verge . In my books they are as credible as high profile YouTube reviewers.

 

[Fatus_Asticus]

I don't doubt there are ****** managers and bad Apple stores to work for. Quite frankly the job would be horrendous to me even under the best of circumstances.

You know what other jobs mostly suck? All of them. Fact is if you don't perform, hit goals or otherwise make profits over what others do you will be relegated to the bottom of the barrel projects, passed over for promotions and otherwise left to rot until you get fired or quit.

I'd like everyone to be happy and over paid. Could Apple Pay the base workers more? Sure, I'd support that and hope they do it. That said, its an CS job that literally anyone can do. There are 2m more jobs right now than people looking for work with a total 6m or so job open. If you can't find a job in the current market, can't upgrade your job etc then you aren't trying or have negative skills to bring to the table.

 

[44267547]

I didn’t read the article, as ‘The Verge’ is pretty much like the TMZ of the tech world. Nothing they really say holds weight with me.

However; the customer service industry in general is brutal, Apple employees deal with the same things that a restaurant server would deal with, regardless of ‘Pay’ or the popularity that follows with Apple.

I’m not going to rehash anything that’s already been discussed here, these employees have a choice, and they’re not on a contract, they’re not being forced to work at Apple, and if I was an Apple employee, I would use this company to every advantage I could, but never allow them to use me. Most people in the customer service industry, it’s not their ‘end goal’ to finish their career there. Most people have further aspirations with continuing education, and if someone is being treated indifferently, then take action and move on.

I had a supervisor years ago that said something to me I’ll never forget, and he said regarding a ‘stepping stone’ job, “Stay long enough with an employer to get the experience you need to grow, but don’t stay long enough to become the enemy.”

 

[BreakYurAnkles]

I didn’t read the article, as ‘The Verge’ is pretty much like the TMZ of the tech world. Nothing they really say holds weight with me.

However; the customer service industry in general is brutal, Apple employees deal with the same things that a restaurant server would deal with, regardless of ‘Pay.’

But I’m not going to rehash anything that’s already been discussed here, these employees have a choice, and they’re not on a contract, they’re not being forced to work at Apple, and if I was an Apple employee, I would use this company to every advantage I could, but never allow them to use me. Most people in the customer service industry, it’s not their ‘end goal’ to finish their career there. Most people have further aspirations with continuing education, and if someone is being treated indifferently, then take action and move on.

I had a supervisor years ago that said something to me I’ll never forget, and he said regarding a ‘stepping stone’ job, “Stay long enough with an employer to get the experience you need to grow, but don’t stay long enough to become the enemy.”

You had a good supervisor. Some people never get that type of advice (not even from their parents)

I have come to accept the fact that some people like familiarity even when its uncomfortable (jobs, relationships, etc.). They'll complain all day every day about it, and never take action.

I've have always had the mindset that I can always find something else. I don't know if its a internal personal thing or some type of conditioning throughout life, but if I don't like something and its hurting my overall well-being?

Bye Felicia!

Hello Amanda!

 

[hrMACnstuff]

as someone said earlier, its american corporate culture to exploit people. businesses are saints and the employees are always in the wrong and evil. the entire country runs on blaming another for what they themselves are doing. along with no accountability at all. we are all here to be exploited by businesses. accept it and move on. btw, couldn't tim take a little of his 800M-1B fortune and spread it around? of course not, lol! thats how much he and his contemporaries really feel.

 

[macintoshmac]

This is an Apple forum. Not Nike. Tim Cook goes above and beyond to make his company seem like an absolute gift to all humanity. Apple exists for the betterment of all mankind, is planet-friendly, etc.

If he didn’t tout all these things, maybe we would simply think of Apple as just another corporation that cares about its bottom line, executive enrichment, whatever.

Their very strong message does not match their weak actions regarding even their own people.

And you’re correct, most likely nothing will change. But you can still throw shade at those who deserve it.

One does not simply come to an Apple forum to shed some light on the darker aspects of Apple. Digestion is difficult in that case. Thou shalt be vilified.

 

[jcshas]

Perhaps someone who actually works for Apple can weigh in on this article. One of my kids work at an Apple retail store and Apple has been very good to them so far.

 

[ipponrg]

Perhaps someone who actually works for Apple can weigh in on this article. One of my kids work at an Apple retail store and Apple has been very good to them so far.

I know some folks in Apple corporate (finance/engineering/design). They've mentioned to me that if you accept Apple as just-another-employer, everything is OK for now but could be better of course! Sure, they preach certain philanthropies (such as security, justice initiatives, etc.), but you cannot realistically please everyone. The people that create a lot of noise seem to have unrealistic expectations of working for an American capitalist company.

 

[TechRunner]

“Stay long enough with an employer to get the experience you need to grow, but don’t stay long enough to become the enemy.”

This is brilliant. Sounds like a supervisor I'd appreciate...

After reading The Verge piece yesterday, my response was, "Yeah, that's retail!"

 

[ouimetnick]

In all fairness, retail isn't kind to anyone. I don't care if it's Apple, LL Bean, Macy's, Best Buy, Home Depot, etc. Retail is tough. You work long hours and have goals. There are horrible managers in every business, Apple certainly isn't immune. I know Apple has their propaganda and wants low level retail employees to actually believe that they are "enriching people's lives" but I don't believe that. It's just another tech store with the same faults that retail has.

 

[dumastudetto]

Apple is still the best corporation on the face of the earth to do your best work.

It doesn't matter where you are in the food change, your contributions are helping to change the world.

It should not all be about money for these people. To do your best work you need to balance pay with passion. If you're not cut out for this, go find another job.

 

[Webster's Mac]

Not sure what to think. The article was horrifying...suicide is always tragic. The writer, however, tends to write these kinds of "hit pieces" on companies, where she gets a few people to talk about how they think a company is horrible and then make a blanket statement about the entire company. So, I'm torn. I think Apple should be better than this. However, you aren't forced to work there.

 

[Webster's Mac]

AND, I might add that NPS is a garbage system to gauge employees. The whole idea seems to be you are a "Promoter" (10/10 on the survery score)...or there is a problem (anything less than a 10/10). I would love to see Net Promoter score go away completely...nobody who cares about customers AND employees should use that garbage system

 

[44267547]

Perhaps someone who actually works for Apple can weigh in on this article.

Apple employees are prohibited from commenting on sites like this, it’s in their P&P, plus they sign & agree not to. So I highly doubt (And wouldn’t recommend) anybody that works direct for Apple currently discussing this topic on a website like this.

 

[mpavilion]

That story is about retail employees that effectively had no job due to covid and stores closing and Apple, rather than sacking them all, created new jobs for them so they could work from home and still be paid. As stores started opening again, many didn’t want to go back to their retail jobs, so the complaint was basically, “It’s not MY fault you created a job out of thin air JUST so I could get paid instead of letting me go without a check. I’m NOT going back to that retail job!”

Not sure why you said this after quoting me linking to the other Verge article? It’s about corporate employees and issues at HQ, not the retail stores.

 

[mpavilion]

I’ve worked in retail before, it does stink in certain fundamental ways… but if $2.5 trillion tech company can’t do better in these regards than a low-margin apparel chain, that’s certainly an indictment of something.