Apple Reportedly Paying Out $150 Bonuses to Certain iPhone 4 Launch Day Retail Store Employees

[KnightWRX]

Ok we get it, you worked alot of hours in a single shift, you've said it many times in different posts, we get it.

It seems not since people are still whining about 12 hours being a long shift and requires hazard pay in line of 60,000$ bonuses per hour.

Working for Apple retail is hell. You should see the amount of money they make out of those stores. $150 doesn't seem so big once you see numbers.

Could never work there again, had my time in college.

Next time, walk up to your manager and ask for a raise. I just hope you have better arguments than "the store is making tons of money!"

Anyway, you knew the pay before you signed up, you do realise you had the choice to refuse the job if you didn't find the pay adequate compensation right ?

But don't scoff at it, its not an easy job.

I've done the customer service thing 10 years ago. Not at the retail level, but worse, the helldesk. Pay wasn't much better than a retail store employee. And you know what ? Playground. There's 0 pressure compared to a real job. Oh sure, the managers try to make it seem otherwise, but once you realise what it is you have to do and just how easy it is, the pressure just melts away.

 

[twoodcc]

well $150 is better than nothing

 

[JediZenMaster]

Why are people up in arms about this? No one in this thread is directly effected by apple giving out a $150 Bonus. I mean really guys was there nothing else to blame apple for or complain about that you picked this?

I'm glad they gave them the bonus.

 

[KnightWRX]

Why are people up in arms about this? No one in this thread is directly effected by apple giving out a $150 Bonus. I mean really guys was there nothing else to blame apple for or complain about that you picked this?

Uh ? No one is up in arms about the bonus.

I see 2 camps :

1- Bonus is not enough, slap in the face
2- Shut up, any bonus is fine, bonuses are not required.

 

[mdatwood]

And where do you go that you can blow $150 in one night? I've only done that twice, and both times it was for very expensive restaurants. I think that for anyone that works for a living, no matter what their wage (or location) $150 is a really nice gesture, especially when it was unexpected. Again, there is nothing lame about it.

I'm guessing you've never been to Las Vegas?

Bonuses are *not* taxed at the highest rate. Bonuses are taxed at the rate of ordinary income. This means that most Apple Store employees will be taxed at around the rate of 10% for their bonus. (Assuming that they are single with no dependents). The effective tax rate for single employees making $26,000/year is 5.5% - meaning that they will pay 5.5% of the $26,000 in federal taxes. Less if they make less...

There are still state taxes that may be owed, and the 7.65% SS /Medicaid taxes must also be paid. But that's still less than 15%...

There are different rules that apply on withholding taxes for bonuses...sometimes a flat 25% is withheld, sometimes the normal withholding percentage applies, etc. But this money isn't taxed, and you will get it back (at the latest) when you file taxes.

You're right that I misspoke. Bonus are generally *withheld* at the 25% rate, but since most people overpay on their taxes they will get the extra money that is withheld back at the end of the year. It doesn't change that the check they get today will be substantially less than $150.

Depending on state and local taxes your bonus checks can end up having 40%+ withheld which gets you right to around $80-$90 that end up in your pocket today.

 

[finnns2000]

Next time, walk up to your manager and ask for a raise. I just hope you have better arguments than "the store is making tons of money!"

Anyway, you knew the pay before you signed up, you do realise you had the choice to refuse the job if you didn't find the pay adequate compensation right ?

They make you believe raises and bonuses are going to be more prevalent... Ah the joy of fluff.

I won't even bother...

 

[RAS118]

Old News

This $150 bonus was known to employees the day of the iPhone launch.

 

[snakelda]

It's not like anyone is going to give you money! Its a nice bonus for Apple employees to work a big day

 

[Gator24765]

to all of you lame a$$es that think $150 is a joke i would be happy to take that off your hands since you dont appreciate it..

 

[southparksteve]

These guys work pretty hard on those launch days and definitely deserve it. WTG Apple

 

[Omniblast]

Hey Apple. How about for people standing in line for 14 hours before getting a iPhone?
I'll take that in iTunes/App Store Credit as well.

 

[charlituna]

Require several days to recoup from a 12 hour day?

It sounds like a joke in the making but I do have to agree that those at the Apple stores that went 12 hours deserve something. And more than a pat on the back.

The typical 12 hour day isn't so bad usually but that day was far from typical. I know, I saw it. I had to go in that day for my phone cause I was leaving for a gig. And as it was I was in the store for like 45 minutes cause ATT's servers were wacky and they had to call in and do my activation some manual way. And that was after being in line for like 3 hours.

They were non stop. There seemed to be no time for anything. Folks might disappear in the back for a quick drink or to pee but it was fast. And then they were right back in the fray. Some of them were handling several transactions at once. They had those trainer folks at tables activating phones and teaching folks how to do things so the regular sales people could take more folks. I saw guys bringing out box after box of phones and taking water and granola bars out to the line.

Honestly I thought I had walked into two days before Christmas. I'm sure they were all exhausted. Maybe not days and days to recover but I bet no one had trouble sleeping that weekend.

Why are people up in arms about this? No one in this thread is directly effected by apple giving out a $150 Bonus.

You sure about that. Just because no one has posted "I'm an Apple Retail Employee" doesn't mean that there are known. perhaps there's a rule against posting on these kinds of boards and so they are keeping mum about what they do, using fake names etc.