Apple Giving Retail Employees Up to a $1,000 One-Time Bonus

[Duane Martin]

$20 CAD is $15 USD and is less than what McDonalds and Walmart pay.

Thank you for the clear demonstration of false equivalency which is the bane of reason. Turns out economics are more complicated than that but it does inspire me to make a proper comparison of Apple Retail to what McDonalds and Walmart pay in my region according to a quick search on the internet. These are for starting positions.

McDonalds - average < $14/hour
Walmart - around $14/hour
Apple Retail - $21/hour

You, too, can do this search on the internet by simply entering "average pay for BLANK worker in BLANK region" (fill in the blanks accordingly). I would be curious to see if in any region McDonalds and Walmart employees are paid more than Apple retail employees, or even close for that matter.

That is how you properly compare wages.

 

[4jasontv]

Thank you for the clear demonstration of false equivalency which is the bane of reason. Turns out economics are more complicated than that but it does inspire me to make a proper comparison of Apple Retail to what McDonalds and Walmart pay in my region according to a quick search on the internet. These are for starting positions.

McDonalds - average < $14/hour
Walmart - around $14/hour
Apple Retail - $21/hour

You, too, can do this search on the internet by simply entering "average pay for BLANK worker in BLANK region" (fill in the blanks accordingly). I would be curious to see if in any region McDonalds and Walmart employees are paid more than Apple retail employees, or even close for that matter.

That is how you properly compare wages.

What on earth is your point? Where you live Apple employees afford 50% more attitude than where the other person lives?

All this does is point out that the $1000 bonus is worth less to the people who need more money to cover their local cost of living. That must be why it's up to $1000. Your local Apple retail employees will get 50% more than theirs.

They go out of their way to offer inconsistent starting salaries, but despite having the cost of living data don't alter product prices in parts of the country with lower wages...

What's your point again? Some people make less doing the same job because they don't really need as much to cover the bare minimum?

 

[Ant2369]

There are a lot of people talking **** in these comments, who clearly have no idea about the working conditions and performance incentives of Apple employees. I've been working as a Genius in a Canadian retail store for well over 10 years, and considering the workload we are given, we are VERY well compensated. Not just in salary, but in yearly Restricted Stock allocations, discounts on stock purchases, discounts on products, cash bonuses (such as this one), the occasional free food, and very flexible schedule arrangements, rock-solid insurance, etc...

Most people who don't last at Apple Retail wouldn't last long at retail, in general. Most of the people who complain, either at the retail or the corporate level, are privileged pansies who are always thinking about what will trigger them next. Some people who started working at our store while they were in university stayed even after graduating, because they had trouble finding a job in their field of study that had the same financial incentives.

I did it for 6 in two different stores and I can honestly say the location has a lot to do with all the your above positives and just as much to do with my negatives….worked various retail for 20 plus years so I know how it goes

 

[dba415]

Yeah from what I've heard Apple pays and treats its retail employees pretty well. It's the rest of the industry that needs to catch up, badly.

 

[Arsenikdote]

Not really a "thank you", but a cynical PR ploy to mitigate some of the backlash against obscene corporate profits and the equally obscene tax cut they received. By dropping some crumbs on a few employees, they convince the uneducated masses that the tax cuts really helped the working class. So, of course, they are not "thanking" employees out of the goodness of their heart. It's just a stunt to divert criticism.

LOL, who is being cynical? Neither of us will know for certain the intent of anyone in the decision making tree. However, one thing is for certain, Apple did more than 95% of the 500 closest sized companies.

Also, my Dad's saying of never looking a gift horse in the mouth comes to mind...

 

[Arsenikdote]

They are working a full time job. That is their value

They have most definitely earned the right to have a dignified living

You just don't seem to realize how underpaid people are do you?

The status quo has been inching ever closer to failure each year since the 80s. There will be a breaking point.

I think the problem is when you try and define "dignified living". I work and travel abroad a lot and what you might think is way below dignified living is very much different perspective to other people around this planet. Point being, it is subjective until such a time that humanity all agree on a set of standards.

Until that time you are always going to have people disagreeing on what "dignified" or "fair" should be. I don't believe we should force some untrue future onto the ruleset of today and then get angry when companies don't follow this wish list. It doesn't make any sense.

Until we change humanity's viewpoint on "earning" and "wage" and "living", points about these topics should either be inspiring to enact the change you wish to see, or at least grounded in some sense of reality to help truly contribute to the conversation and the practicalities that people face today. Arbitrarily throwing out $30/hr or a high school level position without showing its merit today or tying it to some dream of a better future for all humanity doesn't seem to have much purpose other to just incite reaction. But maybe that was all you were after...

 

[Arsenikdote]

Giving your hard-working employees a raise would've been better.

Buying them a house would have been even better.

 

[Arsenikdote]

It's always kind of weird to complain about someone giving you a gift. But I'm fine with that and I'll do it. So, that's the biggest company on the plannet, making a 21 billion net profit on a single quarter, spending 80 millions on bonuses. Even with a 25% employee discount, at $1000 each, that's not enough to buy a single item within most of Apple's product line-up. Gross 👎

I love your post! Finally someone who is recognizing that it was indeed a gift and then you go on to call out why you feel like it was not really a gesture that was appropriate.

My personal opinion is that Apple should have done more since it was directly correlated to the employees who helped them through COVID. However, I do happen to disagree that the revenue of the company and the profit amount should be correlative to the bonuses paid. Just as employees are not expected to share in the losses of a company, they don't share in the boons either. A company should make decisions on the bonuses based on the health of the company and what is appropriate for that employee and compensation plan. In this case I think they missed the mark considering the pandemic situation. But a bonus is still a bonus as well

 

[Ant2369]

It's always kind of weird to complain about someone giving you a gift. But I'm fine with that and I'll do it. So, that's the biggest company on the plannet, making a 21 billion net profit on a single quarter, spending 80 millions on bonuses. Even with a 25% employee discount, at $1000 each, that's not enough to buy a single item within most of Apple's product line-up. Gross 👎

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

 

[berlinerszenen]

Thanks for the info. So I suppose they have good wages in retail. Then an extra bonus is a bless.

I was paid $12/hour when I started in 2010. Not all ships have risen with the rising tide.

 

[UnusedLoginID]

In the United States, the average retail salary is $27,653.

In the United States, the average Apple retail salary is $38,716.

And in many locations of the San Francisco Bay Area where there is an Apple Store, the average room in an apartment will cost you $20K per year which makes that $38K look ridiculously low. No access to home ownership there!

 

[UnusedLoginID]

There are a lot of people talking **** in these comments, who clearly have no idea about the working conditions and performance incentives of Apple employees. I've been working as a Genius in a Canadian retail store for well over 10 years, and considering the workload we are given, we are VERY well compensated. Not just in salary, but in yearly Restricted Stock allocations, discounts on stock purchases, discounts on products, cash bonuses (such as this one), the occasional free food, and very flexible schedule arrangements, rock-solid insurance, etc...

Most people who don't last at Apple Retail wouldn't last long at retail, in general. Most of the people who complain, either at the retail or the corporate level, are privileged pansies who are always thinking about what will trigger them next. Some people who started working at our store while they were in university stayed even after graduating, because they had trouble finding a job in their field of study that had the same financial incentives.

Yeah, but you have universal health care… think about the additional expense in the US for health insurance deductible, copays and the likes.

 

[Arsenikdote]

And in many locations of the San Francisco Bay Area where there is an Apple Store, the average room in an apartment will cost you $20K per year which makes that $38K look ridiculously low. No access to home ownership there!

Why should retail workers in San Francisco have access to home ownership? I am confused.

Regardless, if a human being wants to live in one of the most expensive cities in the US, probably top 25 in the world .....either be ok living with next to nothing or get a better job. If that human can't get a better job but wants a higher quality of life or wants to own a home, move to a cheaper cost of living city. Nothing to do with how much Apple pays their employees as almost any entry level position at any company is in the same exact boat.

 

[Scoob Redux]

LOL, who is being cynical? Neither of us will know for certain the intent of anyone in the decision making tree. However, one thing is for certain, Apple did more than 95% of the 500 closest sized companies.

Also, my Dad's saying of never looking a gift horse in the mouth comes to mind...

As far as "knowing for certain", we can say that Apple has a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders to maximize profit. They cannot give money away for purely altruistic reasons. If they donate to a charity, it is because their analysis has indicated that there is a business case for the donation (i.e. the tax break + positive PR will more than offset the donation and result in an increase to their bottom line). Same goes for employee "bonuses" - we absolutely do know that they are not doing this to "be nice" - there is a business case that supports this (PR, monetary benefit of employee retention, etc.)
I didn't imply that anyone should reject a few extra bucks offered to them by their employer - just don't attribute the employer's actions to altruism or caring about employees.

 

[Scoob Redux]

Thank you for the clear demonstration of false equivalency which is the bane of reason. Turns out economics are more complicated than that but it does inspire me to make a proper comparison of Apple Retail to what McDonalds and Walmart pay in my region according to a quick search on the internet. These are for starting positions.

McDonalds - average < $14/hour
Walmart - around $14/hour
Apple Retail - $21/hour

You, too, can do this search on the internet by simply entering "average pay for BLANK worker in BLANK region" (fill in the blanks accordingly). I would be curious to see if in any region McDonalds and Walmart employees are paid more than Apple retail employees, or even close for that matter.

That is how you properly compare wages.

Nope. you "properly" compare wages by measuring the multiple that the CEO receives over the average employee. Simple comparison. And it reveals the true obscenity of Apple's pay (as well as most corporations).

 

[dukebound85]

Why should retail workers in San Francisco have access to home ownership? I am confused.

Do you not see how this sounds?

Anyone working a full time job should have access to home ownership PERIOD. The system is broken

 

[Arsenikdote]

As far as "knowing for certain", we can say that Apple has a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders to maximize profit. They cannot give money away for purely altruistic reasons. If they donate to a charity, it is because their analysis has indicated that there is a business case for the donation (i.e. the tax break + positive PR will more than offset the donation and result in an increase to their bottom line). Same goes for employee "bonuses" - we absolutely do know that they are not doing this to "be nice" - there is a business case that supports this (PR, monetary benefit of employee retention, etc.)
I didn't imply that anyone should reject a few extra bucks offered to them by their employer - just don't attribute the employer's actions to altruism or caring about employees.

I guess for those who subscribe to an either or way of living your perspective makes sense. I, however, believe the world is more complicated than that and a company can do something that makes sense from a PR perspective AND from a perspective of wanting to do something nice. That was my reason for pointing out your cynicism, you focused on the negative as the opposite of the positive rather than any possibility of things living together.

 

[Arsenikdote]

Do you not see how this sounds?

Anyone working a full time job should have access to home ownership PERIOD. The system is broken

It is good everyone can have their own opinion, and that is most certainly yours. Mine is just because someone wants something doesn't mean they get it. I also believe that those who work harder should have the opportunity (not the guarantee) of getting more. A rewards system based on effort not based on breathing spurs innovation and the advancement of society.

I personally have participated in this process myself. I have actually started companies, grown them and provided wages to many families. Sold them and done it again. I am actually working my ass off and contributing not just asking for stuff. However, even with my success I wouldn't whine and complain because I can't afford a house in San Francisco or an apartment in downtown New York, or Tokyo, or London, or..... I can afford a house in 85% of the cities in the US.

If I can't afford it in all of the cities and feel like I should complain about it, I should go cry a F@#@! river to the millions of people around the world who are looking for a meal. First world problems and selfish ones at that. However, home ownership absolutely should be obtainable by more people and it is a MASSIVE problem in the US. It is especially horrible to those of color and is generationally systemic. There needs to be change. But that is not the same as complaining because the people who work at an Apple Store in San Francisco can't afford a home in that city. People don't "deserve" to own a home anywhere they want, that is just entitlement at a horrific level.

 

[I7guy]

As far as "knowing for certain", we can say that Apple has a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders to maximize profit. They cannot give money away for purely altruistic reasons. If they donate to a charity, it is because their analysis has indicated that there is a business case for the donation (i.e. the tax break + positive PR will more than offset the donation and result in an increase to their bottom line). Same goes for employee "bonuses" - we absolutely do know that they are not doing this to "be nice" - there is a business case that supports this (PR, monetary benefit of employee retention, etc.)
I didn't imply that anyone should reject a few extra bucks offered to them by their employer - just don't attribute the employer's actions to altruism or caring about employees.

Cynical post. How does one explain the negativity associated with Apple’s social stances. Companies sometimes do attempt to do the right thing.

 

[Scoob Redux]

Cynical post. How does one explain the negativity associated with Apple’s social stances. Companies sometimes do attempt to do the right thing.

Not being negative toward Apple, just pointing out that corporations' motives are often different from those that people ascribe to them.

I guess for those who subscribe to an either or way of living your perspective makes sense. I, however, believe the world is more complicated than that and a company can do something that makes sense from a PR perspective AND from a perspective of wanting to do something nice. That was my reason for pointing out your cynicism, you focused on the negative as the opposite of the positive rather than any possibility of things living together.

I can see your point. I agree that within the context of "giving" or "donating" (including to charity), those making decisions for the corporation may often have positive intent and try to do things that can make a difference. Ultimately, a business case has to be made, and a determination made that the expenditure will help the corporation's bottom line in some way. My objection was only to people saying that cash bonuses to employees are the corporation trying to be "nice"...I don't think "niceness" has anything to do with $1000 bonuses.

 

[I7guy]

Not being negative toward Apple, just pointing out that corporations' motives are often different from those that people ascribe to them.[…]

Seems like we really don’t know when corporate motives are different or same than those that people ascribe to them. As far as Apple, we could guess, but we’ll never know for sure. Sure when apple donated tens of millions to Ppe the ulterior motive could be tax write off or wanting to help. Take your pick.

The more general some statement similar to the quote is, the more difficult to either prove or show false while at the same time the meaningfulness of it goes down.

 

[AnonWiz]

Which of those three questions were you trying to answer?

The first