Apple Gifts Employees With T-Shirt and Printed Credo for the Holidays

[ChromeCloud]

I think it's disgusting. And that's coming from somebody who truly loves Apple products.

I'm not really bothered by the fact it is a $2 shirt. I think that's fine. Doesn't matter if Apple makes billions in profits every year: they run a business, not a family.

What's really bothering me is the message that's printed on it. Instead of thanking the employees for their hard work, they act as if they are trying to convince them they should feel proud to work for Apple because their mission is just to make the world a better place by "giving more than they take" (lol) and to "enrich people lives".

Who in their right mind would ever choose to wear such a propagandistic message on his/her shirt? They have mistaken their employees for a mass of brainwashed followers.

If I were an Apple employee, I'd light that ****ing shirt on fire.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Every December, Apple provides its retail employees around the world with a special holiday gift to thank them for their contributions to the company and to celebrate the holiday season.
...
"We give more than we take."

I stopped here.

I'm not going to harp on about what Apple should or should not have given its customers, but I do find brand frameworks such as this quite creepy. Instead of recognising the holiday itself, Apple use it as a means to indoctrinate employees into this corporate culture. "We can do no wrong; we are on a higher ground. Problems resort from other people."

For many years I worked for The LEGO Group, and like many other European companies, their practices are quite opposite of what Apple demonstrate. Sure, you get company gifts (a hamper with groceries, exclusive LEGO set and guaranteed pay rise), but everything is centred around the employee's family or close relations. The card is signed by the Kristiensen family to the readers family. The food and drinks are asked to be shared. The LEGO set always encourages family building. Most importantly, their QoL initiative encourages time out of work during seasons to be spent with loved ones - that work is secondary.

Apple could learn a lot from the way other companies practice these things, but my gut tells me that they are so proud of themselves, a recital of the company's charter is more important than Christmas itself.

 

[smacrumon]

Hey, hey, hey! Whoa there cowboy! You think those new Gulfstreams and 4th vacation homes are just going to pay for themselves? Pick up a Robb Report once in awhile and look at those prices for the private islands. C'MON!!!!

Would have thought an iTunes gift card have ben smart business for Apple. Half wouldn't redeem it. And of the remaining that do redeem it, half of those would spend the gift card plus extra on related services and new devices to make use of the gift card. (In Apple executives speak, that's more planes, islands and automobiles.)

 

[C DM]

Mostly - but i think it's more telling what the unfocused meaningless pandering and meandering message that's delivered. It's not simple, it's hardly effective, it's all over the place and it's not actionable. I think it reflects 100% the type of company that Apple is becoming.

But Apple under TC is a lot of hot air whilst doing the exact opposite of what they profess.

"Privacy". Actual: weaken iTunes backup, join prism, forget SIP on new computers, make iMessage weak by design, turn-over data without warrants, Siri (=Cortana)
"Green". Actual: make stuff un-upgradable, un-openable and offer minor upgrades and dongles.
"Pro". Actual: Let the Mac Pro languish (well first make it in a form-factor that no working pros actually like, make it not internally upgradable), Macbook Pros - let them languish, then add Emojibar whilst removing battery life and ports that professionals might like to use during their day-jobs. Kill all pro level software (don't spin it off, just kill it / neuter it)

Looking at clouds some might see bunnies and cars, but it doesn't actually mean bunnies and cars are actually there.

 

[larmende]

Where I work we are likely to receive a box of chocolate truffles or some cheap hamper about £15 worth. Our customers don't care hat we get, and honestly, it's none of their business anyway. So why do people get angered about what able employees get?

 

[niun]

Would have thought an iTunes gift card have ben smart business for Apple. Half wouldn't redeem it. And of the remaining that do redeem it, half of those would spend the gift card plus extra on related services and new devices to make use of the gift card. (In Apple executives speak, that's more planes, islands and automobiles.)

I would have thought it'd be a gift card. Maybe even a Mario inspired gift card considering that's the current "thing".
At least you could give a gift card to a family member if you don't want to use it yourself.

I'm wondering how environmentally friendly the laminated credo is.

 

[djlythium]

Products for the world without that do not live up to their claims deserve to be criticized. For the world within, that's their own business.

 

[flat five]

You can keep on trying to deflect it, but the claim that there were millions of other people who could work for Apple is just factually wrong and stupid.

you appear to have some sort of glorified view of apple employees.. you're talking about maybe 1% (or 1000 people).. but what about the other 99,000?
there are 30000 people working at the apple stores.. 20000 working at call centers.. of only those two categories, there are millions of people who could do these jobs..

tbh, i can't really understand why you're even trying to fight me about this

 

[xlii]

It's all about the giving... not the getting.

 

[G4DPII]

I worked my butt off this year and will get nothing from my employer. At least they got a shirt.

You got paid. What is it with the sense of entitlement to a bonus.

Doesn't happen in any other country. Only American think they have a right to a bonus. A bonus is just that a bonus, not something to be depending on.

 

[coolbreeze]

Apple has about 115k employees.
Looks like they gifted close to 1 million dollars. Or $8.69 per shirt.
Or, do whatever math you choose.

A gift is a gift folks, my company gave out nada; and I personally don't fault them for it.

Yep. These kids are acting like Apple should feel obligated to take their entire 11 billion dollar profit and distribute it equally amongst the 115k employees. That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works.

Welcome to Corporate America where you are fortunate to have employment. Don't like it? You can be replaced with someone more talented who will work for less...tomorrow.

 

[stevet]

Where's the "From Tim Cooks iPhone" signature.... What a creepy, feminine, and delusional about the world type of letter.

 

[Macinva]

Lots of corporate experts on the forum. We should be glad to have all this insight. Oh, and don't dare have an opinion that differs from theirs or they'll shun you...

 

[MacKindaGuy]

Tim and the Apple execs are so high in their "who we are" and "what we do" BS, its disgusting. Where some of this positive messages were derived from Steve's founding vision goals, he meant it when he said it. When a product was "Amazing", it really was (MacBook Air pulling out of an envelope, iMac redesigns etc) Now to hear Tim and his execs repeat the same banter on stage when the products are half-baked, full of glitches and (as if its Tim's big middle finger to loyal Mac users) more expensive.

Least they could do is hang out those damn dongles than a freaking credo to hardworking their employees.

 

[Defthand]

Corporate Xmas gifts can't be lavish if the employee pool is large. Stockholders won’t allow it. Besides, Apple's corporate staff and technical staff are probably paid handsomely and only deserve a token gift on top of that. As for the retail employees, they deserve something better for interfacing with countless customers at all hours for minimum wage.

I worked in corporate America. The truth is, the more someone earns, the more they complain when raises, bonuses, benefits, employer subsidies, and gifts are reduced. White collar office workers are the most spoiled lot there is. They think their clerical and “managerial” contributions are somehow superior to the r&d, sales and supply chain branches.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Yep. These kids are acting like Apple should feel obligated to take their entire 11 billion dollar profit and distribute it equally amongst the 115k employees. That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works.

Welcome to Corporate America where you are fortunate to have employment. Don't like it? You can be replaced with someone more talented who will work for less...tomorrow.

Agreed.
Just because a company makes money doesn't mean they MUST give anybody a gift EVER.

What happened to just saying : " Thank you " and move on with ones life. Throw it out, wipe the floor with it, but stop whining.

No matter what Apple would have given they would have been criticized.
Money, not enough , Gift cards not high enough in value as it is "Retail", free iPhones oh probably refurbs etc.etc.

It has always been easy to distribute other people's money.
All of the complainers should ask themselves what they would give if they had a company with employees.

Seems like today's attitude doesn't take into account the simplest basics, like having a job and getting paid.

If you do a good job you will be noticed, rise and make more money (If that is your goal in life)

No company owes you ANYTHING, but pay! You don't like it there or can do better: LEAVE!

Happy Holidays!

 

[superboss]

That Tshirt design was for sale at the Apple Cupertino retail store in November.

So it is not even like they got one made specifically for employees.

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

My question is. Why do all of you people on here who believe Apple is such a money grabbing greedy evil company continue to use and buy their products left and right?

 

[rugmankc]

I guess T-Shirts are not all bad--

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-employee-t-shirts.1737349/


Sounds like a "kinder, gentler" Forum back then---

 

[Denmac1]

I'm unsure if I'm amazed that there are posters here that are upset that people are mocking this "gift" or not. Sure, no one should feel entitled to a gift. Sure, employees get paid for there jobs, and there are far worse retail jobs, so you could say Apple retail employees are "lucky." But especially in this era of "ho hum" updates Apple retail employees are charged with the task of keeping customers impressed by the Apple brand. The products really don't "wow" by themselves anymore. So in that vein, getting a rather ugly self-serving corporate t-shirt doesn't in any way say "we appreciate you," which is what a holiday gift to employees is suppose to say. I doubt it helps morale either.

Tim Cook's total benefit package is in the hundreds of millions. This year he will receive about $10m in $ alone. Other Apple execs make even more. Now let's take inventory at what Cook and co. have accomplished in the past 6 years - they have depreciated Macs, iPad and iPhone sales have dipped, AppleTV is the most expensive, least impressive streamer (no 4K for $199), HomeKit trails other home automation hubs and Siri is behind other voice controls systems. Even worse, Siri integration and capabilities differs on iOS, tvOS, and OS X. Design is lazy - something as simple as the Apple Pencil has a unimaginative, easy to lose cap, it charges in a way that is awkward, and there is no integrated area to store it.

Despite this TC says AW is selling like gangbusters. iPhone 7, a run-away-hit. Apple apologists here keep telling us the new MBP is selling "like hotcakes." OK. If that is true then why wouldn't Apple want to celebrate its landmark year of sales with retail employees?

So, yeah, if I were an Apple retail employee I'd be a bit off put by this "gift." Apple might as well just donated to the Human Fund in the name of each employee. Tim Cook has shown his true bean counter nature here.

I always enjoy your posts. This one is spot on. For the other posters that think all the other perks make up for this, they don't realize that if the company can afford all the 'extra' perks, then they should outshine themselves with an outstanding holiday bonus. The t-shirt just reflects the way Apple has become under TC.

 

[stanhope]

WTF did angela get? LMAO a more highly paid incompetent you'd be hard pressed to find.

 

[nt5672]

Perfect from the Supply Chain Visionary. Cheap, increases profits, and appears to say "we care". Typical liberal action. Put out some dogma and propaganda and it will be ok.

 

[Denmac1]

I agree. I personally find both gifts very meaningful. The t-shirt is symbolic of the great team at Apple. The credo is purposeful and uplifting. Apple employee compensation is a separate matter and I suspect most Apple employees are satisfied with their compensation and benefits otherwise they would be somewhere else.

Many of these comments, on the other hand are downright deflating. They provide a glimpse into the shallow minds and and resentful hearts of so many people. Goodness guys, this is the season for being thankful for what's good in all of our lives, not to spread resentment and discontent.

Thank you Apple for enriching my life with great products and services that help me reach for and achieve my aspirations daily.

Happy holidays to all.

Thanks, Tim...

 

[nt5672]

Well I do contract work and got a fruit basket from a repeat customer that I did not work for at all this year. It was not a mistake and it fits our relationship. It was not much, I appreciated the thought (which was the purpose), but it certainly is better than a tee shirt and a credo. I think this is very telling about the state of Apple these days. The worst part to me is the credo. WTF, is this gesture about the employee or about Apple reprogramming the employee with propaganda.

Oh, wait, I forgot political correctness indicates that we should be happy when we are told to be happy and only protest when we are paid to protest. Sorry, I got off track.

 

[Defthand]

If this story reaches a size-able and equally offended audience, only one outcome is likely… Apple will add a clause to its employee contract that results in dismissal if any internal activities are shared publicly.