The National Labor Relations Board has determined that Apple has violated labor law on several points regarding employee rights.
In a new decision by the American labor market committee, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Apple has been convicted of violations of labor law. It is the second time in a couple of months that Apple has been brought down by the NLRB – in early December, the board found that Apple had unlawfully prevented store employees in Atlanta from organizing. This time, the case is about Apple, including high-ranking executives, behaving in a way that prevents employees from exercising their rights. The investigation was prompted by a complaint from Ashley Gjovik, a former executive at the company who was fired after revealing what Apple called company secrets in connection with her speaking out publicly about sexist harassment within the company.
Among other things, the NLRB has taken notice of an email that Tim Cook sent to all Apple employees, in which he wrote that "people who leak confidential information do not belong here" and promised that the company will do everything it can to identify leaks. An email that was ironically leaked to the press. Apple has also had rules for employees that the board finds to be illegal. For example, Apple prohibits employees from disclosing what other employees are paid – something that prevents groups of employees from freely discussing pay and organizing for more equal pay. If the company does not reach a settlement, the NLRB will proceed to court, reports Bloomberg.