Apple has been accused by the US Labor Board of imposing illegal workplace rules

A US labor board has issued a complaint accusing Apple of violating employees’ rights to organize and advocate for better working conditions by maintaining a series of illegal workplace rules.

The National Labor Relations Board said in the complaint late Monday that Apple required employees across the country to sign illegal confidentiality, nondisclosure and noncompetition agreements and imposed overly broad policies on inappropriate behavior and social media.

The complaint accuses Apple of “interfering with, restricting and coercing employees in the exercise” of their rights under federal labor law.

Apple, in a statement provided by a spokesperson, said it has always respected the rights of its employees to discuss wages, hours and working conditions, which is reflected in its employment policies.

“We strongly disagree with these claims and will continue to share the facts in the hearing,” the company said.

If Apple doesn’t settle the case, it will be heard by an administrative judge starting in January. The agency is seeking to require Apple to rescind the allegedly illegal rules and notify its entire US workforce of their legal rights.

Decisions of administrative judges may be reviewed by the five-member labor board, whose rulings may be appealed to federal appeals courts.

The complaint stems from allegations filed against Apple in 2021 by Ashley Gjovik, a former senior engineering manager at the company. Gjovik said that various Apple rules, including those regarding privacy and social media use, discourage employees from discussing issues such as pay equity and sex discrimination with each other and with the media.

Gjovik also filed a lawsuit in California federal court in May, accusing Apple of illegally retaliating against her for filing NLRB complaints and trying to organize other workers, which the company has denied.. A judge on Tuesday dismissed most of Gjovik’s lawsuit, while giving him a chance to amend some of his claims.

The company faces at least two other pending NLRB cases alleging it fired an employee at its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters for criticizing managers and illegally interfering with a union campaign at an Atlanta retail store. The company has denied wrongdoing.

In May, the NLRB ruled that the manager of an Apple store in Manhattan illegally questioned an employee about his support for a union. Two U.S. Apple stores have unionized since 2022, and unions are working to organize several more locations.

Photo: AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File

TOPICS
USA Commercial Lines Business Insurance