Apple Responds to Accusations of Executive Creating 'Toxic Workplace'

[artifex]

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.

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Haven't seen any of the trainers, but I think I'd rather see someone I can identify with show that the exercise is doable at my current fitness level, than an athlete with a different body type, different muscle fiber type, etc.

Funny that you felt compelled to bring up the appearances of people, in response to a discussion about accusations of workplace toxicity, though.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Another day ... another story that highlights so many problems at Apple now.

Wow, I am so shocked at your response. Just like everything else in your view points to problems.

apparently a few others as well.

Because in this country, we believe in guilty until proven innocent, right? There is an accusation and so it must be true.

 

[Alan Wynn]

That doesn’t make it right though.

Do not forget that until there is a trial, these are just allegations. They may be true or false, we do not yet know.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Management shouldn't acting like that and the new employees shouldn't be subject to this guy.

You personally witnessed the alleged behavior? Otherwise these are just allegations. Seems people have the hardest time understanding that.

 

[OverTheHill]

Employees have changed, too, and not for the better.

Agreed. I retired early because I couldn’t take Millenials anymore. Is it really too much to ask to get to the office on time for the three days you have to come in each week? Is it really too much to ask to have you stay until 5? When we’re on a call while you are remote working, do I need to hear your kids running around? Is it too much to ask that you look professional on a call? Is it too much to ask that you answer your phone since you’re sitting at home doing laundry or yard work instead of working? Why are you out on your bike when calling in for a Teams meeting? HR in their effort to provide “work life balance” and bow to these clowns found all of this to be acceptable. Why? When the employees were told it was inappropriate, they started whining and crying about it. Then it became a mental health issue and they needed time off. Boo freakin’ hoo.

 

[Alan Wynn]

2. When it’s one employee lodging a complaint it’s questionable, but nine employees would certainly be quite the coincidence.

Having had friends who have invested sexual harassment claims, the first small number have different but similar stories and the next large number have the exact same story. In other words, a large or small number does not tell you much about the accusations. Sometimes they are true, sometimes they are false. Until these claims are proven in court, they are just accusations.

3. Apple using an internal auditing team doesn’t help the employees as much as it helps Apple. An external auditing team would help investigate in a more unbiased manner.

Maybe, maybe not. In addition, it says Apple’s internal investigation, it does not say anything about the team doing it. Some “internal” investigations are done by non-employees. Do you know what Apple’s process was?

4. Apple already settled a sexual harassment complaint involving him, and while I’m sure they admitted no wrongdoing, that still doesn’t look good.

Lots of lawsuits get settled for many reasons and without knowledge of the settlement, you have no idea what it means.

5. The fact that Blahnik is a higher-up, and he helped create Apple Fitness+, tells me Apple may see him as a money maker for the company, and is willing to look the other way rather than let him go. It may not be true, but it sure looks that way. One has to wonder how much damage to their image he is worth.

This is pure speculation based on zero information.

6. This person is supposed to represent health and wellness yet he has all these accusations of troubling behavior that negatively affect… health and wellness. Surely they can find someone to better represent this area of the company?

Still amazed at how many people cannot tell the difference between accusations and facts.

He may be guilty, he may not. I have no idea, but I am not going to start with the assumption that he is.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Only because Apple is protecting him.

You do not think he makes enough to defend himself in lawsuits against him?

They already did an internal investigation and paid out on sexual harassment.

No, Apple settled a lawsuit, nothing in the article says they paid anything nor what the terms of the settlement were. I have no idea, and I doubt you do either.

They want to save face and not pay out again.

Or maybe they do not think he is guilty. I have no idea, nor do you. Right now these are just allegations. Once there has been a court case, we will have more information.

 

[Alan Wynn]

This was reported by the New York Times.

Which has never been wrong, and all allegations are always true.

I have never met him, but until these claims are proven in court, they are just allegations.

 

[ronno]

… Apple won’t tolerate someone trashing their reputation for very long.

The guy has been sued twice before, Apple settled once, and now another 10 people corroborating against him - and Apple has said there’s nothing to see here.
This is a very bad look.

 

[tyranne201]

instead of saying: lets investigate

they are defending.

 

[tyranne201]

Those 10 employees can now have a good life elsewhere. There aren’t a lack of employees looking to work at Apple

"During a meeting in 2021 to discuss a fitness feature on the Olympic skier Ted Ligety, Mr. Blahnik joked with colleagues about sleeping with the skier, two people who attended the meeting said."

 

[tyranne201]

Which has never been wrong, and all allegations are always true.

I have never met him, but until these claims are proven in court, they are just allegations.

well, why would 10 employees corroborate this?

He also spoke about the rear ends and breasts of trainers who were filming workouts, some of the other people who worked on the team said.

 

[Mrjoedot]

it's pretty obvious why...I mean look at the guy

 

[chucker23n1]

Which has never been wrong, and all allegations are always true.

I have never met him, but until these claims are proven in court, they are just allegations.

There's a lot of smoke here. In court, he's innocent until proven guilty. In public opinion, he's already in pretty poor standing.

 

[chucker23n1]

Having had friends who have invested sexual harassment claims, the first small number have different but similar stories and the next large number have the exact same story. In other words, a large or small number does not tell you much about the accusations. Sometimes they are true, sometimes they are false. Until these claims are proven in court, they are just accusations.



Maybe, maybe not. In addition, it says Apple’s internal investigation, it does not say anything about the team doing it. Some “internal” investigations are done by non-employees. Do you know what Apple’s process was?



Lots of lawsuits get settled for many reasons and without knowledge of the settlement, you have no idea what it means.



This is pure speculation based on zero information.



Still amazed at how many people cannot tell the difference between accusations and facts.

He may be guilty, he may not. I have no idea, but I am not going to start with the assumption that he is.

Wow. He should hire you as his lawyer.

 

[Happy_John]

Apple’s HR is so cringy. They call it the “People” department, as in…for the “People”. They hire the best most hardcore gaslighters they can to do this kind of work.

That’s not what “Human Resources” ( or “People resources”) means.

It doesn’t mean “Resource for humans”, it means “Humans (i.e. staff) are a resource”.

A resource is anything a person or company has that can be used/leveraged or exploited to the benefit of that company or person.

A HR department exists to use the staff in a way that maximises the benefit to the company.

A HR department is not there to benefit the staff. That would be a trade union, not a HR department.

 

[4nNtt]

All companies have toxic people and HR's response is usually just to move the people hurt by them somewhere else if they do anything at all. All managers should be tested for emotional intelligence in my opinion.

 

[thiscatisfat]

That’s not what “Human Resources” ( or “People resources”) means.

It doesn’t mean “Resource for humans”, it means “Humans (i.e. staff) are a resource”.

A resource is anything a person or company has that can be used/leveraged or exploited to the benefit of that company or person.

A HR department exists to use the staff in a way that maximises the benefit to the company.

A HR department is not there to benefit the staff. That would be a trade union, not a HR department.

They called it “People” to give the impression they are there for the people/focused on people. That’s a verifiable fact, look it up.

 

[Happy_John]

They called it “People” to give the impression they are there for the people/focused on people. That’s a verifiable fact, look it up.

I’m sure they did, but that doesn’t change what “Human Resourses” means. It’s not offering resources to human (or people) the people are the resource, and the department manages that resource in a way the benefits the company, not the humans/oeople.

No matter what fluffy/friendly spin you give it, a HR department works for the benefit if the shareholders, not the staff. Never expect a HR department to work against the benefits of the shareholder and work for the benefit of the staff.

If that’s what you want, the HR dept is the wrong place to look. Asbefire, for that you are looking fur a trade/labour union.

But Apple doesn’t really like trade/labour unions. So if you are an Apple employee and have a grievance, you’re s**t out of luck unless you find, and pay for, independent legal advice.

 

[tomtad]

He certainly looks the sort

 

[maxoakland]

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.

And that’s how a company culture degrades into corporate idiocracy

These whistleblowers are exactly the kind of people you want working at your company. They’re brave, nonconformist, and have self respect (which implies respect for others)

If you push those people out and keep the toxic people, the company ends up with just the toxic people. Thats how you get customer-hostile decisions, employee exploitation, and bad quality

Our cultures need to stop protecting and promoting people like Jay Blahnik and start realizing the devastating affect they have on society, profitability, and quality

 

[maxoakland]

Wow, I am so shocked at your response. Just like everything else in your view points to problems.




Because in this country, we believe in guilty until proven innocent, right? There is an accusation and so it must be true.

Why do I only hear people talk about this regarding men accused of sexual harassment?

When was the last time you talked about the importance of “innocent until proven guilty” when applied to someone accused of stealing or illegal immigration?

 

[thiscatisfat]

I’m sure they did, but that doesn’t change what “Human Resourses” means. It’s not offering resources to human (or people) the people are the resource, and the department manages that resource in a way the benefits the company, not the humans/oeople.

No matter what fluffy/friendly spin you give it, a HR department works for the benefit if the shareholders, not the staff. Never expect a HR department to work against the benefits of the shareholder and work for the benefit of the staff.

If that’s what you want, the HR dept is the wrong place to look. Asbefire, for that you are looking fur a trade/labour union.

But Apple doesn’t really like trade/labour unions. So if you are an Apple employee and have a grievance, you’re s**t out of luck unless you find, and pay for, independent legal advice.

I mean…you don’t need to tell me that, I think majority of us know what HR is for in general 😄 But thanks

 

[IJustWannaTalk]

Do not forget that until there is a trial, these are just allegations. They may be true or false, we do not yet know.

Dude, not being tried and/or convicted in no way means it didn't happen.

Just means it can't be proven.

 

[newyorksole]

he looks… interesting. to say the least.

I’m surprised Apple hasn’t let him go. he must be sleeping with someone high up or has dirt on someone.