NLRB accuses Apple of illegally restricting employee Slack and social media use

The Nationwide Labor Relations Board has accused Apple of infringing on its staff’ rights to advocate for higher working situations. In a complaint noticed by Reuters, the company alleges Apple illegally fired an worker who had used Slack to advocate for office modifications on the firm. Individually, the NLRB accuses Apple of forcing one other employee to delete a social media put up.

The case stems from a 2021 criticism filed by #AppleToo co-organizer Janneke Parrish. In October of that yr, Apple fired Parrish for allegedly sharing confidential data, a claim she denies. Per the criticism, Parrish used Slack and public social media posts to advocate for everlasting distant work.

She additionally shared open letters essential of the tech big, distributed a pay fairness survey, and recounted cases of sexual and racial discrimination at Apple. Based on the labor board, Apple’s insurance policies bars staff from creating Slack channels with out first acquiring permission from a supervisor. As a substitute, employees should direct their office issues to both administration or a “Individuals Assist” group the corporate maintains. An instance of the kind of issues some staff used Slack to voice will be seen in a 2021 tweet from former Apple employee Ashley Gjøvik.

“We stay up for holding Apple accountable at trial for implementing facially illegal guidelines and terminating staff for participating within the core protected exercise of calling out gender discrimination and different civil rights violations that permeated the office,” Parrish’s lawyer, Laurie Burgess, informed Reuters.

Apple disputes Parrish’s claims. “We’re and have all the time been deeply dedicated to creating and sustaining a optimistic and inclusive office. We take all issues significantly and we completely examine at any time when a priority is raised and, out of respect for the privateness of any people concerned, we don’t focus on particular worker issues,” an Apple spokesperson informed Engadget. “We strongly disagree with these claims and can proceed to share the information on the listening to.”

Supplied Apple doesn’t settle with the company, an preliminary listening to is scheduled for February with an administrative decide. The NLRB is seeking to pressure the corporate to vary its coverage and reimburse Parrish for the monetary hardships she suffered as a consequence of her firing. Final week, the NLRB accused Apple of forcing staff to signal unlawful and overly broad confidentially, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements.

Replace 7:09PM ET: Added remark from Apple.