Unionized Maryland Apple Store Workers Request 10% Raise and Option to Accept Customer Tips

[coffeemadmanUK]

The thing is, if the company offered 45 days of bereavement, every one of these workers would take all 45 days every year. I was the engineering manager for a company, and we offered a certain number of sick days per year, and all the people who worked in my department took every single sick day, every year. How times have changed. My father was a banker, and in 35 years, never called in sick.

I'm not 100% sure this would happen. Once established rights are in place you find people don't - generally - take the biscuit.

I have pretty much unlimited sick pay - I am only off when I'm sick. I have 35 days annual leave in addition I have the 8 bank holidays off. I am almost always pressured *to take* my full leave at the end of the year.

Once the culture is there you find people only use what they need.

So, respectfully, I don't think you're right in thinking that 45 days sick days would be 100% taken by 100% of workers.

 

[monstermash]

Immediately followed by him throwing in for the tip anyway because even the other hardened criminals thought that was a bit too far.

He threw in for the tip because the big boss paid for his meal:

"Since you bought breakfast, I'll put in. But normally I would never do this.

 

[monstermash]

This is why economics is complicated. The best combination we've found is a free market economy WITH government regulations. Too much in either direction doesn't work. The tendency under both systems is for all the wealth to accumulate at the top. Raw capitalism results in just as much poverty for the average person as does a totally centralized economy. It's all a matter of incentives.

Not sure universal basic income would work because we essentially tried that during covid and the theory was proven correct that it doesn't work because inflation simply catches up to income. But on the other hand just letting companies pay people slave wages because there's always more pawns to burn through isn't good for society either.

I think one of the time travel episodes from DS9 had it right. Put all the unproductive people who can't take care of themselves in walled off "sanctuary cities" and give them the minimum, courtesy of everyone else.

Although, personally, I think using islands for this purpose would be more secure and cost-effective.

 

[CarAnalogy]

He threw in for the tip because the big boss paid for his meal:

"Since you bought breakfast, I'll put in. But normally I would never do this.

Well yeah exactly, he's one of the criminals. Even the guy who cut the cop's ear off thought he was being a jerk.

 

[CC77]

Because not all jobs add that much value to the business and/or are worth what other positions pay.

Example...fast food workers are asking for more than what many pharmacy and vet techs make. Both of those jobs require real educations and skills and in many cases, state licensing.

Then pharmacy and vet techs should make more. You should be able to pay your bills through working a job. That’s literally the definition of a minimum wage.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I think one of the time travel episodes from DS9 had it right. Put all the unproductive people who can't take care of themselves in walled off "sanctuary cities" and give them the minimum, courtesy of everyone else.

Although, personally, I think using islands for this purpose would be more secure and cost-effective.

I like the Douglas Adams approach where they all go on "Ark 1."

Of course the problem with all of these approaches is who gets to decide.

 

[monstermash]

Then pharmacy and vet techs should make more. You should be able to pay your bills through working a job. That’s literally the definition of a minimum wage.

No, the definition of "minimum wage" is what you have to pay to keep the govt off your back.

 

[russell_314]

Doing the most!

Why would you want to tip an Apple store employee for buying an iPhone? This is an Apple Retail Store, not a restaurant, SMH. 😖😣

Exactly! Tips at the Apple store? Umm no!

The only people that I can think of that deserve tips are wait staff because they make less than minimum wage. This is why you tip a waitress and I tip them well.

How about give them exactly what they deserve/want. Pay them the same as wait staff make, and have them work on tips. If they want tips, then they should make tip wages.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Because not all jobs add that much value to the business and/or are worth what other positions pay.

Example...fast food workers are asking for more than what many pharmacy and vet techs make. Both of those jobs require real educations and skills and in many cases, state licensing.

I do understand that not every job that needs doing can afford to pay a huge amount of money, thus hiring teenagers who don't need a full living wage. But we see the results. I don't even bother with fast food because those kids mess it up every time because why should they care? If they actually paid a higher wage to fewer more dedicated people it might work out better for everyone.

 

[steve123]

LOL.

Tip for what? Do you tip at Best Buy? Target?

Like everything else, don't fall for social pressure and tip $0.

Jethro: "You should tip that person". Pa: "Alright, plant corn early".

 

[steve123]

Imagine you buy a brand new Apple Product at an Apple Store and an Apple Specialist hits you with this...

There will never be a day I'm ever going to be tipping at an Apple Store.

"No Tip" would be greyed out.

 

[macdisciple]

LOL.

Tip for what? Do you tip at Best Buy? Target?

Like everything else, don't fall for social pressure and tip $0.

Employees do more than sell. Perhaps someone might tip ab employee at one of the in-store workshops if you received very personalized instruction.

 

[quagmire]

The thing is, if the company offered 45 days of bereavement, every one of these workers would take all 45 days every year. I was the engineering manager for a company, and we offered a certain number of sick days per year, and all the people who worked in my department took every single sick day, every year. How times have changed. My father was a banker, and in 35 years, never called in sick.

That shouldn't be something to be proud of or celebrate.

Sure be proud or to call in sick only if he was actually legit sick. That's called being ethical.

But if he ever went in sick, then that is something to be shamed. Your co-workers don't want you there, they don't want to get sick. And in my industry, you're compromising safety by working sick. Going in when you're sick is a selfish thing and something this culture needs to change the mindset of. And if companies want to reduce "fake" sick calls especially when people are close to retirement, then payout the sick time at retirement.

 

[steve123]

Does that mean I have to tip Tim Cook as well at an Apple Store?

Yes, 30%.

 

[Neepman]

I would be fine with tipping IF whatever employees hourly wage WITH their benefits package were posted on their name tag they have to wear.

 

[monstermash]

I do understand that not every job that needs doing can afford to pay a huge amount of money, thus hiring teenagers who don't need a full living wage. But we see the results. I don't even bother with fast food because those kids mess it up every time because why should they care? If they actually paid a higher wage to fewer more dedicated people it might work out better for everyone.

That's a fantasy world. In my experience, there is a good chance they're going to screw it up regardless of how old they are or how much they make.

My most recent restaurant experience...just a few days ago. Actual, sit down restaurant. A simple request. "No Sour Cream". Of course it had sour cream. They wanted to just scrape it off! I said no, remake it. So they did.

Of course, he also didn't refill our drinks or bother to "check on us" the entire time we were there either. He clearly didn't care, and the thought of getting a tip didn't seem to be a motivator.

 

[monstermash]

I would be fine with tipping IF whatever employees hourly wage WITH their benefits package were posted on their name tag they have to wear.

Exactly. These days, I assume everyone is making at least $15/hr with or without any tip from me. That makes life a lot easier.

 

[AtomicDusk]

As a previous Apple retail employee who spent time training folks at Townsend, my primary function was running the inventory control team a Bethesda store, but my experience is something I encountered in stores in Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties in CA as well as Bethesda, Baltimore, Atlanta and Nashville.

There were times where we, the back of house team, would help customers bring in computers for repair - think G3 towers, Mac Pros (pre-trash can) and iMacs OR help take new purchases out to customer's cars. I personally have multiple instances of customers wanting to tip for the carry out of their new computer, but have to decline it.

Now I imagine since 2010, when I left, the instance has fallen off as the carrying of cash has fallen off, but even in an instance where a NBA Player wanted the 4 27" iMacs he bought brought out to his car that we was pulling around, we couldn't accept the tip.

And that was fine - I was paid well.

Also before anyone judges the customers, remember Apple stores are not usually anchor locations and a mall in the middle of the holiday season or weekends means usually people have to park far away. This was something that... 95% of the time we were more than happy to do. The 5% of the time I minded it was because we would be busy receiving a delivery or validating a cycle count.

 

[MacWiz_007]

That's a fantasy world. In my experience, there is a good chance they're going to screw it up regardless of how old they are or how much they make.

My most recent restaurant experience...just a few days ago. Actual, sit down restaurant. A simple request. "No Sour Cream". Of course it had sour cream. They wanted to just scrape it off! I said no, remake it. So they did.

Of course, he also didn't refill our drinks or bother to "check on us" the entire time we were there either. He clearly didn't care, and the thought of getting a tip didn't seem to be a motivator.

Exactly! And now at McDonalds' these people get paid $15 an hour to serve fries, and they can't even do that right. Also, they gripe about how $15 isn't enough to live on. Now that is hilarious!! On top of that, I have to pay $10 for a value meal (they up-charge .29 for a medium drink now, btw) to pay for these people to screw up their $15 an hour job. I used to get fast food fairly often but I rarely hit a drive thru anymore. Not only is the food garbage for you, although it tastes decent enough for the speed at which it was made, the prices are asinine.

 

[monstermash]

....even in an instance where a NBA Player wanted the 4 27" iMacs he bought brought out to his car that we was pulling around, we couldn't accept the tip.

I find the concept of a multi-millionaire dragging himself to a retail store to buy computers funny. I mean, doesn't he have PEOPLE for that? I mean...if nothing else, order online and have them delivered. What is wrong with that guy??

 

[monstermash]

Exactly! And now at McDonalds' these kids get paid $15 an hour to serve fries, and they can't even do that right. Also, they gripe about how $15 isn't enough to live on. Now that is hilarious!! On top of that, I have to pay $10 for a value meal (they upcharge .29 for a medium drink now, btw) to pay for these people to screw up their $15 an hour job. I used to get fast food fairly often but I rarely hit a drive thru anymore. Not only is the food garbage for you, although it tastes decent enough for the speed at which it was made, the prices are asinine.

Yep. Fast food prices these days are completely insane. I used to go virtually every day. Now? Meh...I'll just go hungry most of the time.

 

[0924487]

Are you working for anywhere close to $16.55 an hour, no it's not greed. You cannot live off of minimum wage. I would much rather pay a higher price at the door and not have to re-calculate for the 15-20% tip.

You are not supposed to be able to live on a minimum wage job. Those jobs are for high school and university kids working part-time, or if you are a stay-at-home wife and babysit when you have free time for a bit of extra income.

Most people who are on non-service jobs that pay $16.55 don't get tips, such as security, cachers and seasonal fruitpickers.

 

[0924487]

Why would I tip an employee for being particularly helpful if the tip will be split among the entire staff anyway?

On the other hand, "The union is requesting double pay for employees who work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours a week"
lol in Argentina that's by law for hourly employees

In China, the standard legal work week is 8 hours a day for 6 days a week, or 9 hours a day for 5 days a week.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

A well-written article has been posted by 9to5mac. They have an interesting take.

Apple Store tips demand is a silly distraction from real change

Whether you are for or against the unionization of Apple’s retail stores, I think few would begrudge the staff many...

9to5mac.com

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The closest thing Apple Retail Store Employees will get when it comes to tipping.