Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
It is common for companies to control employees personal speech and side-projects. I get it, but really don’t care for it. I’d love for this to be dropped as a status quo of corporate culture.
 
Can a company sack you without a written warning and going through the correct consultation process? Fairly sure they can’t, or at least in the UK they can’t as this is hardly gross misconduct.
They sure can in the USA. Of course a lot of it depends on the state law so it depends on what state you’re in and also if there’s unions involved. Most companies won’t and obviously they haven’t with her but she’s pushing her luck so she might end up getting fired. Maybe she figures all the attention will get her TikTok subscribers so she’ll make money doing that instead of working at Apple.

The company I work for has just revamped their policy on firing people and they made a point to let us know that we could be fired without warning for certain things. It’s not just the obvious ones like violence but it could even be something like productivity where are they just feel you’re not doing a good job. In the USA everything is about supply and demand so if labor is short and companies need people they are usually more forgiving of minor issues but once labor becomes abundant they start cutting people for anything. Also even though it’s technically not legal you can get fired just buy pissing off your supervisor. They can and will write your work up is terrible and overlook other people doing the same terrible work. You can fight that but it’s not as easy as you would think. Big corporations have lawyers on staff so unless you have witnesses that said the supervisor told you something bad then you’re pretty much out of luck. I’ve seen it happen many times.

Of course it depends on your position in the company. The higher up you are less likely they will fire you for something minor. She is supposed to be an engineer but I don’t think so because she works at the store so I’m guessing she’s just some type of technician. I don’t see them having engineers at the stores but maybe I’m wrong? That just sounds expensive!
 
They sure can in the USA. Of course a lot of it depends on the state law so it depends on what state you’re in and also if there’s unions involved. Most companies won’t and obviously they haven’t with her but she’s pushing her luck so she might end up getting fired. Maybe she figures all the attention will get her TikTok subscribers so she’ll make money doing that instead of working at Apple.

The company I work for has just revamped their policy on firing people and they made a point to let us know that we could be fired without warning for certain things. It’s not just the obvious ones like violence but it could even be something like productivity where are they just feel you’re not doing a good job. In the USA everything is about supply and demand so if labor is short and companies need people they are usually more forgiving of minor issues but once labor becomes abundant they start cutting people for anything. Also even though it’s technically not legal you can get fired just buy pissing off your supervisor. They can and will write your work up is terrible and overlook other people doing the same terrible work. You can fight that but it’s not as easy as you would think. Big corporations have lawyers on staff so unless you have witnesses that said the supervisor told you something bad then you’re pretty much out of luck. I’ve seen it happen many times.

Of course it depends on your position in the company. The higher up you are less likely they will fire you for something minor. She is supposed to be an engineer but I don’t think so because she works at the store so I’m guessing she’s just some type of technician. I don’t see them having engineers at the stores but maybe I’m wrong? That just sounds expensive!

Yeah I’m always shocked at the lack of benefits and employment laws for protecting employees in the US. Makes me realise how lucky we are in Europe for that sort of thing. 28 days holiday, maternity and paternity pay, sick pay, and bereavement leave are all things we don’t realise aren’t always available in other countries.
 
Yeah I’m always shocked at the lack of benefits and employment laws for protecting employees in the US. Makes me realise how lucky we are in Europe for that sort of thing. 28 days holiday, maternity and paternity pay, sick pay, and bereavement leave are all things we don’t realise aren’t always available in other countries.
I’ve always been jealous of how other countries get so many vacation days. The only thing that comes close to that in the USA is the military and I’m surprised we haven’t cut that. They get 30 days vacation per year and many get an extra day off a month added to the weekend. I get two weeks but it’s hard to even get it approved
 
  • Like
Reactions: The-Real-Deal82
OK I’m torn with this one. She’s not berating anyone. She’s being honest and some people don’t like honesty because it hurts their feelings. I would love to link her video as a reply to every post by someone who created MacRumors account just to ask why is their battery health at 97%. She probably hears this question so many times a day that it’s built up frustration.

This being said the issue I have with her is she saying she works for Apple. Now with her saying that she is representing the company by using their name. I wouldn’t disagree if Apple fired her because maybe what she is saying it’s not in the tone Apple wants to present to its customers. I think she would’ve been fine if she just didn’t advertise the fact that she worked for Apple. Of course she wouldn’t have so many TikTok followers either.

Most companies have a social media policy. If I made that post she made and mentioned the company I work for there would be no threats to fire me because I would be gone. There would be no warning or anything. It would just be you’re terminated, goodbye

I am a doctor.

Say a patient comes to me for a consult. The indication for this consult is questionable.

Yes I am frustrated about the unwarranted referral. But, does that mean I don't give them my time of day? Does that mean I don't listen attentively and look out for red flags?

I can rant about it to my colleagues privately, having anonymised patient details. I can feedback to management. I can even write a constructive op-ed to the local newspaper, describing the pitfalls of our system, with approval from my comms department.

But can I go on TikTok, tell everyone I work in a clinic that talks about fruit, and blame my patients for being stupid (even though it may be true) and wasting my time?

Come on guys, there's no excuse for her behaviour. I would be fired for doing much less. This is professionalism 101.
 
Last edited:
I am a doctor.

Say a patient comes to me for a consult. The indication for this consult is questionable.

Yes I am frustrated about the unwarranted referral. But, does that mean I don't give them my time of day? Does that mean I don't listen attentively and look out for red flags?

I can rant about it to my colleagues privately, having anonymised patient details. I can feedback to management. I can even write a constructive op-ed to the local newspaper, describing the pitfalls of our system, with approval from my comms department.

But can I go on TikTok, tell everyone I work in a clinic that talks about fruit, and blame my patients for being stupid (even though it may be true) and wasting my time?

Come on guys, there's no excuse for her behaviour. I would be fired for doing much less. This is professionalism 101.
Well doctors have all kinds of regulations on what they can say about their patients. I don’t think phone repair people have the same regulations.

Of course any company doesn’t like employees talking about their work or customers. I would get fired for saying what I think about our customers.

I still have to agree with what she said even though I don’t think she should’ve identified herself as working for Apple
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sikh
It is common for companies to control employees personal speech and side-projects. I get it, but really don’t care for it. I’d love for this to be dropped as a status quo of corporate culture.
Exactly... Some of the people replying to my previous posts are being ridiculous. "Oh, it's just a GIVEN. Everyone knows companies won't let any employees speak of or about them! It's as obvious as knowing Santa Claus doesn't exist, as an adult!"

I guess companies will continue to stomp all over people's freedom of speech and free press then in America, because citizens have just given up and decided corporations call ALL the shots?

My point they seem to be ignoring is that slander or libel are already punishable crimes! If you're making provably false statements that damage a company's reputation, then sure -- they're well within their rights to terminate your employment and to take legal action against you. The problem comes when this isn't the case.

For example? Many years ago, I created a personal web page (back when your ISP usually gave you 5 or 10MB to host one on their systems as part of your monthly Internet fee). My employer had a talk with me one day, because it seems I mentioned the company name someplace on my page (simply to list them as my current employer). One wouldn't think it would matter, except it seems the company had never really invested any money in search engine optimization or had much of a web presence themselves. So people doing searches for the company name were finding my personal page in the first 1-2 pages of results! They tried to demand I take down my entire web site. I told them that was unacceptable and I wouldn't be doing that. Ultimately, they changed their demands to requesting I just remove their name from the page. (I was fine with that, even though technically, I shouldn't have even HAD to do that much.)
 
I guess companies will continue to stomp all over people's freedom of speech and free press then in America, because citizens have just given up and decided corporations call ALL the shots?
No one is stomping on anyone’s freedom of speech. Barring yelling “fire” in a crowded area and other limitations, everyone’s free to say what they like. But, there’s no requirement for anyone to pretend afterwards that the person didn’t say it. I have the freedom to post or speak derogatory statements about a friend’s mother. But, I can’t then DEMAND that my friend has me over to their mother’s house for dinner (as I’ve done many times before) “I was only exercising my free speech!” :)

Free Speech, as captured in the constitution is related to the government curtailing speech. The constitution doesn’t say that my friend can’t have an implicit rule of “Don’t say derogatory things about my mom”. :) What covers this area goes back to well before America was founded. It’s one of those things that ARE fairly universally understood.

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
 
  • Like
Reactions: adrianlondon
No one is stomping on anyone’s freedom of speech. Barring yelling “fire” in a crowded area and other limitations, everyone’s free to say what they like. But, there’s no requirement for anyone to pretend afterwards that the person didn’t say it. I have the freedom to post or speak derogatory statements about a friend’s mother. But, I can’t then DEMAND that my friend has me over to their mother’s house for dinner (as I’ve done many times before) “I was only exercising my free speech!” :)

Free Speech, as captured in the constitution is related to the government curtailing speech. The constitution doesn’t say that my friend can’t have an implicit rule of “Don’t say derogatory things about my mom”. :) What covers this area goes back to well before America was founded. It’s one of those things that ARE fairly universally understood.

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”

Funnily enough that is not the case in this topic, for instance,

The word "man" is now a moderated word, possibly a banned word on macrumors.

If you use the word "man" in this topic your post will be removed. Like I did. I used the word "man" and the post was completely removed. Now I understand forums need to moderate and have policies in place, but I think it is important for users to know how things woke, ahem sorry I mean work around here.

I want to give a heads up to other users who think that it is safe to use the word "man" in a post.

You need to get with the program and understand that the word "man" can be offensive to some people and thus they have the right to have your use and the instance of the word "man" removed from a topic such as this, yes some words are dangerous, very dangerous, even a single word, can cause so much hurt and offensiveness that it is better to not say or write or think it at all and it is better for others to know better and remove it on sight.

So not-ladies and not-gentlemen, please consider the hurt and damage you can cause by using even the simplest of words, your free speech does not allow you to be who you are and use your words or the words of your ancestors, even if they knew what they were talking about, it is a crazy idea to think you own your won't thoughts expressed as words. You need to stop now.

Please, if you think this is ok, you need to think different, about words like "man".

Exhibit A:

the-word-man.jpg


NOTE:

Hitting the report button on this post is an act of oppression and a cultural re-appropriating of historical white devil colonials worst traits.

Think before you lash out, and wonder, will I kill a little bit of diversity in my incandescent report rage?

Is it a necessary evil to be as inclusive and supportive of all points of view?

Is it true that if I feel I am right, then I know that I am right in my actions?

Lastly, for those who need to know - No kittens were harmed in the making of this post and the current puppy fatality rate is at an all time high of zero.
 
Last edited:
Funnily enough that is not the case in this topic, for instance,

The word "man" is now a moderated word, possibly a banned word on macrumors.

If you use the word "man" in this topic your post will be removed. Like I did. I used the word "man" and the post was completely removed. Now I understand forums need to moderate and have policies in place, but I think it is important for users to know how things woke, ahem sorry I mean work around here.

I want to give a heads up to other users who think that it is safe to use the word "man" in a post.

You need to get with the program and understand that the word "man" can be offensive to some people and thus they have the right to have your use and the instance of the word "man" removed from a topic such as this, yes some words are dangerous, very dangerous, even a single word, can cause so much hurt and offensiveness that it is better to not say or write or think it at all and it is better for others to know better and remove it on sight.

So not-ladies and not-gentlemen, please consider the hurt and damage you can cause by using even the simplest of words, your free speech does not allow you to be who you are and use your words or the words of your ancestors, even if they knew what they were talking about, it is a crazy idea to think you own your won't thoughts expressed as words. You need to stop now.

Please, if you think this is ok, you need to think different, about words like "man".

Exhibit A:

View attachment 2046189

NOTE:

Hitting the report button on this post is an act of oppression and a cultural re-appropriating of historical white devil colonials worst traits.

Think before you lash out, and wonder, will I kill a little bit of diversity in my incandescent report rage?

Is it a necessary evil to be as inclusive and supportive of all points of view?

Is it true that if I feel I am right, then I know that I am right in my actions?

Lastly, for those who need to know - No kittens were harmed in the making of this post and the current puppy fatality rate is at an all time high of zero.

It was a single word post mate by the looks, not the word itself.
 
That reminds when I worked for an automotive paint manufacturer where a field technician was out in the field adjusting a batch of paint when an employee from the customer overheard the tech complaining about his company. The customer's employee reported what he said to my company and the next day upper management called him back from the field and fired him the moment he walked into his boss's office. A lot of times it isn't what the employee is doing, but bad mouthing/complaining about the company that will get a person fired. A company/corporation doesn't want bad publicity no matter how small it is and she isn't helping her cause complaining about it. A person should suck it up and chalk it up in what NOT to do.
 
Funnily enough that is not the case in this topic, for instance,
Except it 100% is. :)
So not-ladies and not-gentlemen, please consider the hurt and damage you can cause by using even the simplest of words, your free speech does not allow you to be who you are and use your words or the words of your ancestors, even if they knew what they were talking about, it is a crazy idea to think you own your won't thoughts expressed as words. You need to stop now.
“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”
This phrase means that you act badly toward the person who is helping or has helped you. When you bite the hand that feeds you, you are being unthankful, ungrateful, unappreciative. And that is a lot of “un” words. In other words, you turn against, attack, and even harm someone who is helping you.

In this case, the “help” is “you want your words out on the internet BUT don’t want to pay for hosting for a blog or do the work to ensure that folks are checking it everyday? Well, MacRumors provides a free web forum where all you have to do is sign up and start typing. Soon, your words will be seen by hundreds of thousands of others!” However, there ARE rules to follow and if one runs afoul of those, a post may be removed or an account may be suspended. Freedom of Speech as listed in the constitution does not say that MacRumors can’t reject words typed on the site THEY pay for the upkeep on.
 
Except it 100% is. :)

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”
This phrase means that you act badly toward the person who is helping or has helped you. When you bite the hand that feeds you, you are being unthankful, ungrateful, unappreciative. And that is a lot of “un” words. In other words, you turn against, attack, and even harm someone who is helping you.

In this case, the “help” is “you want your words out on the internet BUT don’t want to pay for hosting for a blog or do the work to ensure that folks are checking it everyday? Well, MacRumors provides a free web forum where all you have to do is sign up and start typing. Soon, your words will be seen by hundreds of thousands of others!” However, there ARE rules to follow and if one runs afoul of those, a post may be removed or an account may be suspended. Freedom of Speech as listed in the constitution does not say that MacRumors can’t reject words typed on the site THEY pay for the upkeep on.

Except it 100% is. :)

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”
This phrase means that you act badly toward the person who is helping or has helped you. When you bite the hand that feeds you, you are being unthankful, ungrateful, unappreciative. And that is a lot of “un” words. In other words, you turn against, attack, and even harm someone who is helping you.

In this case, the “help” is “you want your words out on the internet BUT don’t want to pay for hosting for a blog or do the work to ensure that folks are checking it everyday? Well, MacRumors provides a free web forum where all you have to do is sign up and start typing. Soon, your words will be seen by hundreds of thousands of others!” However, there ARE rules to follow and if one runs afoul of those, a post may be removed or an account may be suspended. Freedom of Speech as listed in the constitution does not say that MacRumors can’t reject words typed on the site THEY pay for the upkeep on.

I think I answered the other user suspicions rather efficiently unlike this patronising misfire.

Sometimes the truth is deemed by others to be too helpful.
 
was reviewing some older threads I had posted to and came across this gem.

Wondering if anyone has an update on this? Was this person fired, or are they still employed by the same employer?
 
I don't think it's the whole story, maybe she had done something against the office policy, who knows! But as an employee, you should have to know your rights to handle these situations or can visit an employment lawyer.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.