The tricky thing here is that work at home employees tend to be unreliable when answering calls. Depending on the call software they are using, there is a break option that can be used for restroom, coffee, or water breaks. Since they are require to be on the phone for "insert time here" there has been many employees who abuse this option. Meaning they would walk away for over twenty or even thirty minutes on a "bathroom" break.
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Apple Responds to Call Center Worker Complaints About Plans to Monitor Them With Cameras at Home
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Yeah, this is pretty messed up—and obviously super awesome troll bait—but it's pretty much the same kind of dodgy supply chain stuff that we've been hearing about for years. Hopefully Apple will work it out. I personally think this kind of monitoring is horrific, but it's also commonplace, so it will be a long road to get beyond it, I think. I also really wonder whether it's actually effective?... I don't honestly know, either way, so I'm curious whether anyone here does (as in, has actual experience or data, not just some random opinions)?
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Working from home was already the trade off. It’s not like Apple increased their pay or offered to cover rent or mortgage. Work from home was FOR Apple’s benefit because it allowed the to operate during the pandemic and to conduct business without needing offices all over the world. Apple already benefited by people working from home. They really aught to be more flexible and accommodating to their employees.
False. In many parts of the world, employee right to privacy is legally protected. They cannot monitor our email, they are not allowed to have cameras in the office to monitor us. Etc.
we even have the explicit right to handle certain minor private issues (like a quick call to the tax services) on the boss’ time. Doctor / dentist? You get paid time off for that that does not get taken out of your vacation days. (Of which we get 21 by law, and often more by the employer).
that‘s what healthy work/life balance and mutual respect between employer/employee looks like.
This bit is really getting taken out of context. If you're going to monitor workers in their home environment by video, then there is a risk that you could unintendedly capture footage of another family member, including a minor. Therefore any company doing this has absolutely got to make sure that the employment contract includes provision for this.
Of course you can take a view on the overall topic of this in-home monitoring, but there's nothing creepy about explicitly calling-out minors, despite the way it's being portrayed here.
I see almost no one mentioning that these employees don't work for Apple, and instead people are just talking about what they want to talk about. Apple is a CLIENT of the company they work for. While it's possible that Apple demands the creepy camera tech and the company obliges, it's more likely that the employees just work for a creepy company that doesn't respect them, and that the creepy practices are just the way that company operates. Like any big company, Apple will have standard security practices, which contractors have to meet, but it sounds like the camera monitoring is not among those (or at least they say it isn't).
I'm not sure where you're from, but that's certainly not the case in most of Europe. There's a fundamental right to an expectation of privacy, the depth of which varies between countries.
Apple already logs every keystroke, mouse move, website, etc. on employee hardware. Doesn’t seem out of scope. There is also routine checks on the workspace.
They want you in an office because they don’t want third-party eyes on your screen. And that’s not a bad thing. If you work from home, have a space for your office. It is that easy.
They want you in an office because they don’t want third-party eyes on your screen. And that’s not a bad thing. If you work from home, have a space for your office. It is that easy.
thats the key words, it prohibits their suppliers, but what about Apple Corporate?
What the hell is going on with Apple? Their whole privacy marketing was a giant scam.
Recommendation to the MR team:
Change the title. This has nothing to do with Apple. It's an Apple subcontractor that's wanting to do this, not Apple.
A better title might be: Apple Responds to Subcontracted Call Center Worker Complaints About ...
Yes, Apple has been under a lot of negative press in the last few days, but this is definitely not Apple, nor is it Apple's policy to do this. Blame the subcontractor, not Apple.
Change the title. This has nothing to do with Apple. It's an Apple subcontractor that's wanting to do this, not Apple.
A better title might be: Apple Responds to Subcontracted Call Center Worker Complaints About ...
Yes, Apple has been under a lot of negative press in the last few days, but this is definitely not Apple, nor is it Apple's policy to do this. Blame the subcontractor, not Apple.
Okay Apple, at least an electronic ankle bracelet with a 3 foot square perimeter. Or maybe an electric dog collar.
This is not the Apple I came to love. Even if this is a sub-contractor Apple is supporting it, but hiring them.
This is not the Apple I came to love. Even if this is a sub-contractor Apple is supporting it, but hiring them.
So many people clearly didn't read past the headline. First, this was an allegation by a random person. Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't. Second, this person does not work for Apple. The person works for Teleperformance. Apple contracts with them, as do other companies. Does Teleperformance want to stick video cameras to watch some of the people working from home. That's possible. Does Apple allow that? Per the spokesperson, no. Who you believe (Apple versus a random person) is up to you. However, this is not Apple spying on people.
Guys read the article. The contract in question wasn’t by Apple, it was by the call center they outsource their calls to. The employees complaining about the contract aren’t apple employees, they’re call center employees that work with a number of big companies.
Given the privacy issues Apple is currently dealing with quoting policy feels insufficient on Apple's part.
LOOK YOU! I woke up, grabbed my pitchfork just RARING to type some negative words about Apple and THIS is my first opportunity today. DO NOT TAKE THIS FROM ME!! WHO KNOWS IF THEY’LL DO ANYTHING ELSE TODAY WORTHY OF MY IRE!!
Wait, it’s alleged that some random person not connected to Apple BUT near the Apple Campus tossed a treat to a stranger’s dog? WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH TIM APPLE? TOSSING the treat to a dog LIKE THEY’RE SOME DOG??
Reading the response from Apple in the article is your best friend.
Jesus Christ...
What has happened to Apple?
My god. The last few weeks of news is making me never want to give them a nickel again.
What has happened to Apple?
My god. The last few weeks of news is making me never want to give them a nickel again.
I can't wait to see how Gruber spins this story to defend Apple
I think by all current estimates they will hit rock bottom when my grandkids have grandkids.