Apple Found Illegally Limiting Messaging Use at Work to Prevent Employees From Discussing Work Conditions

The NLRB claims Apple restricted employee use of social media and Slack to discourage workplace advocacy.

By Thea Felicity

Oct 12 2024, 01:25 AM EDT

Apple Holds Annual Worldwide Developers Conference — CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: A view of Apple headquarters a Apple Park on June 06, 2022 in Cupertino, California. Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the annual WWDC22 developer conference. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Months after topping Singapore's Best Employer for 2024, Apple faces new accusations from the National Labor Relations Board.

The NLRB claimed that Apple violated employee rights by restricting their use of social media and other workplace messaging apps, like Slack, to prevent them from discussing their work conditions.

According to Reuters, NLRB contends that Apple made these rules to make employees disengaged from advocating better work environments.

These allegations were supported by another case when Apple unlawfully fired an employee for speaking on Slack about workplace issues. This allegedly forced another employee to remove their social media posts detailing the said condition. NLRB believes this means Apple has been monitoring the social media activities of its employees.

National Labor Relations Board's Complaints Against Apple

This is not the first time NLRB filed a complaint against the tech giant.

Nearly three years ago, a similar NLRB case resurfaced after a former Apple employee was fired for involving herself in employee activism. In the same Reuters report, she shared that she used Slack and social media to promote remote work and conduct a pay equity survey. Earlier this year, VCPost reported that Apple was found underpaying female employees, raising sex and race discrimination concerns.

The former employee also added that they were not allowed to make new Slack channels without manager approval and that all workplace concerns should be reported directly to managers of the People Support group.

Then, recently, Business Standard also learned that Apple received a complaint from the US labor board for requiring employees to sign illegal agreements, including confidentiality and noncompete clauses, and imposing rules on misconduct and social media use. However, Apple disagrees with NLRB's accusations and defends that they take employee concerns seriously.

Apple also denied the first complaint and stated that they respect employee rights to discuss work conditions.

Failure to reach a settlement with the NLRB will cause a hearing to take place in February 2025.

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