Apple on Friday delivered a message to employees that was striking given its reputation for privacy: a reminder that workers can discuss wages, hours and working conditions. The notice came when some employees were pushing Apple To do more to ensure that there is no undue difference in pay across the company.
In a post on an internal site, Apple said its policies do not prevent employees from “speaking freely” about working conditions, according to a copy of the message seen by Reuters.
“We encourage any employee with concern to do what they feel most comfortable with, either internally or externally,” the post said.
An Apple spokesperson declined to comment.
Apple’s business conduct policy already included language that said workers were not restricted in their ability to discuss pay, hours and working conditions, which is generally protected under US law . But employees who have spoken out in recent months have faced resistance, said Janneke Parish, a former program manager at Apple.
Parish, who was fired after playing a major role in employee activism, said he hopes Apple’s messaging will make the way easier for others. “The first step is making sure people are aware of their rights,” she said.
Apple has previously said that it does not discuss specific employee matters and is “deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace.”
The move comes amid widespread pressure by Silicon Valley workers to speak up about their working conditions and the impact of technology on society. Earlier this week, another key worker, Apple software engineer Cher Scarlett, wrote on Twitter that she was leaving the company. Scarlett alleges at the National Labor Relations Board that Apple has stalled salary discussions among employees. Her lawyer, Aleksandr Feilsteiner, said the matter had been resolved and the charges would be dropped. Scarlett said she could not comment.
In companies where a culture of confidentiality and loyalty often leads to self-policing misinformation that ultimately prevents employees from organizing and speaking out, leading company-wide notices can help deter bad actors and Employees can get the confidence to form unions. https://t.co/dJjxKmeaWR— Cher Scarlett (@cherthedev) November 20, 2021
Scarlett and Parish worked together on “#AppleToo,” a group through which current and former employees have been sharing stories of harassment and discrimination.
Apple is known for its secretive culture, which aims to keep the details of new products a secret. Parish said that employees are sometimes unaware of their right to speak on topics such as pay and working conditions.
Ashley Gojovic, a senior engineering program manager who was fired by Apple in September after expressing concerns about harassment and workplace safety, has filed NLRB charges alleging that Apple policies violate the National Labor Relations Act. does.
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