Apple Responds to Accusations of Executive Creating 'Toxic Workplace'

[Chazak]

Did you not even read the summary?

"His behavior contributed to decisions by more than 10 workers to seek extended mental health or medical leaves of absence since 2022," the report said. One former employee on the team said she "never worked anywhere more toxic."

Apple spokesperson Lance Lin told The New York Times that the report contains "many inaccurate claims and mischaracterizations."

So because it’s "in the paper" it’s accurate and a balanced presentation of the facts? Pretty shortsighted of someone to assume so.

Did you not read my comment? I did not defend this guy at all. I questioned the poster about their statement. I don’t think you read my comment.

 

[thiscatisfat]

From a legal standpoint, Apple is required to continue to employ him until there is proof of wrongdoing. Do I think there is? Probably. But a company can't just not perform due diligence.

From Apple’s HR standpoint, this should he an immediate PIP with termination as condition if this doesn’t improve. But that would mean their HR would have to admit that this actually happens, and Apple’s board doesn’t want that. They will gaslight the employees instead, and act like they are the freaks. These people will never get promoted, they will never be put on cool projects, they will be pushed out.

 

[Happy_John]

Every Apple era with Jobs present was an era of “the” Apple. Everytime he was out, Apple lost it’s charm. At least for me. Today’s Apple is a bunch of finance bros in funny vests.

This is why it's sp easy to romanticize someone who has died. Jobs was an abusive employer who wouldn't even acknowledge his own child. Now he's not around, it's very easy to talk about "charm".

Apple is a corporation, not a fan club. As a corporation, like most others, they are in the business of exploitation.

Jobs was an active part of that. It was Jobs that gave the nod to Cook, for the work did in streamlining the supply chain and increasing profits. By outsourcing to countries with lower costs due to lower worker 's rights.

The type of abuse that has been occurring in Apple is systemic, not a case of "one abusive exec". There's a lot of risk-free virtue signaling not his thread, but I have doubts it will change the commenter's own purchasing choices.

It makes no sense to say "something needs to be done" and then proceed to do absolutely nothing.

 

[IJustWannaTalk]

So because it’s "in the paper" it’s accurate and a balanced presentation of the facts? Pretty shortsighted of someone to assume so.

Did you not read my comment? I did not defend this guy at all. I questioned the poster about their statement. I don’t think you read my comment.

You have to be kidding me with this.

 

[Chazak]

From a legal standpoint, Apple is required to continue to employ him until there is proof of wrongdoing. Do I think there is? Probably. But a company can't just not perform due diligence.

I don’t know how you can say that unless you have read his employment contract and are an experienced labor and employment lawyer. Are you? Eactly what is the legal basis for your claim? What "legal standpoint " are you referring to?

 

[thiscatisfat]

This is why it's sp easy to romanticize someone who has died. Jobs was an abusive employer who wouldn't even acknowledge his own child. Now he's not around, it's very easy to talk about "charm".

Yeah but look at the results.

Not to defend his actions to Lisa, but he was freaking 23 years old when she was born. People are still very much stupid in that age, until at least 25-26 when the prefrontal cortex is fully developed or in other words you come to your senses. Even if Jobs was a prick to people who just couldn’t deliver what he envisioned, if he was any softer, Apple wouldn’t be where it is today. I will defend Jobs only because I think I undestand that basically, sometimes you really have to be the shepherd. Shepherds aren’t always the nicest to everyone 😄

I agree with the stuff you added. Apple’s internal culture has always been like this.

 

[Lioness~]

The rotten Apple, toxidity, people or brand idiolization - whatever - I don't live in it 😎

I can't say that I'm not even a fraction of the Apple product fan today that I was at Jobs/Ive era.
But I still buy and love my Mac's in particular - with some disappointments.
iPhone and iPad are also used here - in mini format's, of course, this far.
Other products and services from Apple mostly don't speak to me, ah well I pay for iCloud too.

 

[thiscatisfat]

The rotten Apple, toxidity, people or brand idiolization - whatever 😎

I can't say that I'm even a fraction of the Apple product fan today that I was at Jobs/Ive era.
But I still buy and love my Mac's in particular - with some disappointments
iPhone and iPad are also used here - in mini format's, of course, this far.
Other products and services from Apple mostly don't speak to me, ah well I pay for iCloud too.

Oh my god. Same.

 

[arc of the universe]

Apple’s Latest Innovation: The World’s First Lovably Toxic Workplace™

In news that will surprise absolutely no one who’s ever tried to close their Apple Watch rings under penalty of shame, Apple Vice President of Fitness Technologies Jay Blahnik has apparently gone full CrossFit cult leader—except instead of kettlebells, he’s throwing dumbbells of corporate misery.

Reports describe Blahnik’s team as “the most toxic work environment ever seen in a tech company.” That’s right—worse than Uber when they thought HR stood for “Harassment Ready,” worse than Amazon warehouses where water bottles double as restrooms, and yes, even worse than Elon Musk’s group Slack at 3 a.m. on a Sunday.

But here’s the twist: we’re going to love it.

Because unlike other toxic bosses who make you work 80-hour weeks to “disrupt” staplers or “reinvent” paperclips, Blahnik’s chaos comes wrapped in sleek aluminum edges and advertised in Helvetica Neue. When he screams at you for missing a deadline, your Apple Watch will immediately award you a “VO2 Max Spike Achievement.” When he forces you to run laps around Apple Park at 2 a.m., you’ll be comforted by the fact that your heart-rate variability graph will look amazing in Keynote.

And let’s be honest: no other tech company could pull this off. If Microsoft tried, you’d have burnout charts in Excel. At Google, your manager would just “A/B test your emotional resilience” until you quietly left for TikTok. But Apple? Apple can make corporate toxicity aspirational. They’ll call it Fitness+. Work Edition. You’ll line up to subscribe.

So yes, Jay Blahnik may be presiding over Silicon Valley’s newest psychological Thunderdome. But don’t worry—Apple will release a $79.99 polishing cloth to help wipe away the tears. And we’ll buy it. Twice.

one of the wittiest and well written articles i have read on this site, ever. thank you.

 

[t0rqx]

Is this the reason they stopped doing the Lunar New Year activity rings?

 

[canadianreader]

Agree on product and vibe ...

I never cared for his tyrannical behavior though. Never.

We all have flaws and that was a big one for Steve.

After you read this you’d never look at Jobs the same way again. https://nypost.com/2018/09/06/steve-jobs-exposed-as-an-abusive-creep-by-his-daughter/

 

[canadianreader]

Apple settled a complaint alleging sexual harassment by Blahnik, and it is defending him in another lawsuit over allegations of bullying, according to the report.

This is one of the reasons I don't trust Big Tech when they say that they care about our privacy and well-being

 

[Lioness~]

I get it, why Timmy was flattering Trump with private money....
He wanted to get a free ’get out of prison card’ as in Monopoly 🥳

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

No, this article is not your daily excuse to complain.

Someone voted this down: Checkmate.

 

[bLackjackj]

Which is no way a justification for having it continue.

He's not saying that,..he’s pointing out a toxic culture stems from the top down.

 

[jonnyb098]

As someone who has worked in an extremely toxic work place these things are VERY VERY hard to remedy if said person is in a position of power and especially if legally it JUST hits the line without crossing it.

Example, he could basically say anything he wanted as long as it didn't involve gender/sexual comments. There is no law against being a jerk boss.

Im more concerned that Apple was keeping someone like this around after so many complaints, which was exactly the same situation I was in before. Many complaints to HR that echoed the same verbal abuse. Legally it was a MUCH different story and said abuser was in a higher position of power.

Toxic people like that just make your stomach SINK at the mere presence of them in the room. It's a terrible feeling I would not wish on anyone in the workplace. I hope these employees got the hell out and had some mental healing after dealing with such a miserable person.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

Another Blahník who worked in the shoe business. He does have the harsh glare of a boot camp tyrant.
Isn't it rich he would lead a department focused on well-being?

 

[WinstonSmyth]

I like Apple Fitness, and use it, but I must say many of the trainers especially the women don't look very fit. Back in the 1980's we had the 20 minute workout on TV with 3 trainers who were very fit looking. I can's see the Apple trainers keeping up with them.

 

[dwaltwhit]

I don’t know how you can say that unless you have read his employment contract and are an experienced labor and employment lawyer. Are you? Eactly what is the legal basis for your claim? What "legal standpoint " are you referring to?

A person need not be a lawyer to understand employment law. Wrongful termination suits are ones where someone believes they were terminated for things they cannot be proven to have done.

 

[ronno]

Just wondering what you must know that's not in the article. Can you share?

10 people corroborated, and there are two prior suits against the guy (one of which Apple paid to settle.)

 

[racerhomie]

Judging by your comments, you take your own advice far too literally.

True. Sometimes, not always

 

[racerhomie]

If this kind of behavior continues to be enabled, that won't last long. People want to work at Apple because they think it's going to be a good place to work

True. It’s up to Apple to ensure that standard

 

[SFjohn]

No idea if these accusations are true. Maybe. But one thing I’ve always heard is that it’s absolutely brutal to work for Apple. Back when Jobs was running it, up to today. Some people thrive in that situation, most people do not. When I first fell in love with Apple & they released the first Macintosh, I thought I’d love to work there. Years later having read books & stories about working at Apple, I’m so relieved I never did. I would absolutely hate working in that kind of environment. Whoever this head of fitness at Apple is, he better watch his peas & cues… Apple won’t tolerate someone trashing their reputation for very long.

 

[germinator]

Ugly story. Apple does not look good here.

 

[SamboSoul]

Remember guys, HR is never there to help you. As you can see, they are there to protect the business.

This! If HR could make you work for free, they would!