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Employee Claims Apple Has Threatened Termination Over Viral TikTok Video
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Um, you do realize Apple was founded by a literal dirty hippy who was often rude, and not always honest, don’t you? He was also famously a huge advocate for people being quirky and weird as long as it inspires them to creativity and innovation and being actually useful.
I did just take a look at her video on battery usage and it’s the first time I understood those damned graphs. I’m both insulted by her mocking of my ignorance and impressed by her ease at dispelling it. 😆
I understand they reproach her to state she is an Apple employee in the video. I am curious how this works out. For instance, if she did not mention in the video, but add a link to a linkedIn account where she gives her full resume including current employer, then what happens ? What if she has a linkedIn account but does not give the link (the information is still one search away).
I am not arguing one side or another, it is just that I do not understand where the line is.
I am not arguing one side or another, it is just that I do not understand where the line is.
Meh, she’s someone who clearly doesn’t care for Apple’s cult of secrecy. It seems like she just doesn’t care to sacrifice her personal freedoms to keep the job. Good for her! F**k Apple for being so strict!!
Apple needs to get off their high horse. We know what products are gonna be months before. Leaks are aplenty. It’s an ongoing joke now. Apples just pissed she’s talking about Chinese hackers/resellers boo hoo. She’s speaking truth. This is what happens. And trying to protect people from scams is a good thing.
I don’t care at all about a private citizens private interactions with a private company. But I think it is interesting how their air their private grievance to their public followers looking for support. I would fire an employee for that. We had a private discussion about your tiktok you used it to gin up drama on social media. That’s inappropriate and suggests you care more about tiktok than your job.
However these are tough situations and difficult to navigate with some people telling everything about their lives on social media for both financial gain and social gain.
However these are tough situations and difficult to navigate with some people telling everything about their lives on social media for both financial gain and social gain.
And this is one reason why the U.S needs stronger unions. Getting fired for something like this in Sweden would result in your union suing Apple and without a doubt winning in Swedish court. Which in turn would get you, the employee, a large fine from Apple.
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I think you misunderstand the intent. I cannot say on social media or YouTube or TikTok my company and nothing is secret. I am just not an official public representative of my company so they don’t want my actions being interpreted as company actions. Maybe that is wrong but it’s a straightforward policy with clear intent.
"Campbell began by saying, "I can't tell you how exactly I know this information, but I can tell you for the last six years I've been a certified hardware engineer for a certain company that likes to talk a lot about fruit."
"I don't just have all this Apple knowledge because I work for Apple. I come to this knowledge because I have a long technical education and history. That's why they hired me."
I can't tell you exactly how I know this information, but I can tell you for the past ten years I've been active on one of the biggest internet forums on all things Apple... When you see those two little buttons on your lockscreen, hold the left one and a flashlight will come on. Hold it again and the flashlight will turn off.
And if you think that this is pathetic and most 11 year olds know this, and that bragging over nothing like this suggests I actually know very little, you'd be right.
"I don't just have all this Apple knowledge because I work for Apple. I come to this knowledge because I have a long technical education and history. That's why they hired me."
I can't tell you exactly how I know this information, but I can tell you for the past ten years I've been active on one of the biggest internet forums on all things Apple... When you see those two little buttons on your lockscreen, hold the left one and a flashlight will come on. Hold it again and the flashlight will turn off.
And if you think that this is pathetic and most 11 year olds know this, and that bragging over nothing like this suggests I actually know very little, you'd be right.
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It isn't as if she was using a Cap'n Crunch Whistle or anything.
(For people not familiar, since it might be obscure:
The “Little Blue Box“ elicited the attention of University of California, Berkeley engineering students and future Apple founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. A phone phreaking business was formed by Wozniak and Jobs which provided seed money for the eventual emergence of Apple and of course, the iPhone. Therefore, because of the Captain Crunch Whistle and the Little Blue Box, we have the Apple Corporation and the iPhone today.
telephone-museum.org
)
(For people not familiar, since it might be obscure:
The “Little Blue Box“ elicited the attention of University of California, Berkeley engineering students and future Apple founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. A phone phreaking business was formed by Wozniak and Jobs which provided seed money for the eventual emergence of Apple and of course, the iPhone. Therefore, because of the Captain Crunch Whistle and the Little Blue Box, we have the Apple Corporation and the iPhone today.
Cap'n Crunch Whistle and Secrets of the Little Blue Box
"If it hadn't been for the Blue Boxes, there would have been no Apple. I'm 100% sure of that..." - Steve Jobs
telephone-museum.org
Exactly. She is, at best, disingenuous. And I'm sure it's irrelevant that I find her entitled, narcissistic persona a tad annoying.
A few things to mention here as an ex-retail apple technician:
1. It seems like many of you are assuming you know what the policy is but I can confirm there is no specific policy about social media. The only thing it mentions is not to publically associate apple with anything that can be perceived to be negative in our personal lives, which I'm pretty sure is standard for all companies. e.g. we were advised to cover up or change our apple tops whenever we weren't in the store and the examples they gave us were a) in case people came up to us for advice (lol, like anyone would ever do that) and b) if we went out for drinks after work, got drunk and said/did something bad).
2. She's providing information to help the person. It's advice to stop her from helping the thieves use her phone. It's not top secret information and I frequently dealt with so many customers who were not aware of activation lock and were concerned about anybody being able to access their data on their lost/stolen phone. Yes, this information can be found on apple's website or sources on the internet but you could literally say the same about anyone that has questions or concerns about the majority of things. Just because it's an obvious scam to some people doesn't mean it's obvious to everyone. The majority of people who seek tech help are not tech-savvy, it's why they're seeking help in the first place.
3. When you break it down, all she did in the first video was advise a concerned individual that they were being scammed, explain the scare tactics being used and how apple's activation lock security simultaneously protected the person's data and prevented anyone from using that phone. Her indirectly saying she worked for apple, to me, just helps validate the information she's providing can be trusted. If she said anything remotely negative and/or specifically said "she works for apple" in her first video then apple's reaction would be understandable.
4. To the people who are saying she's doing this for views or she shouldn't talk about where she works...in the first video she doesn't specifically say where she works. Does she refer to it in a way that makes it obvious? Yes but SO many people do this with the companies they work for. It's pretty standard. We referred to it as the "fruit picking store" if we mentioned it outside of work. I do agree that the second video should not have been done if she wanted to defend herself and keep her job however at that point, I honestly doubt she cared and I don't blame her either if this is how apple reacted.
In summary:
1st video: Nothing wrong with it as it's just helpful advice and there's nothing in apple's employment contract that indicates it was a policy violation which required disciplinary action or is a sackable offence.
2nd video: Could understandably be sacked for but considering the interactions with her apple manager after the 1st video, it's unlikely she'd have posted it if she cared about keeping her job at that point and I wouldn't defend her if they did let her go.
1. It seems like many of you are assuming you know what the policy is but I can confirm there is no specific policy about social media. The only thing it mentions is not to publically associate apple with anything that can be perceived to be negative in our personal lives, which I'm pretty sure is standard for all companies. e.g. we were advised to cover up or change our apple tops whenever we weren't in the store and the examples they gave us were a) in case people came up to us for advice (lol, like anyone would ever do that) and b) if we went out for drinks after work, got drunk and said/did something bad).
2. She's providing information to help the person. It's advice to stop her from helping the thieves use her phone. It's not top secret information and I frequently dealt with so many customers who were not aware of activation lock and were concerned about anybody being able to access their data on their lost/stolen phone. Yes, this information can be found on apple's website or sources on the internet but you could literally say the same about anyone that has questions or concerns about the majority of things. Just because it's an obvious scam to some people doesn't mean it's obvious to everyone. The majority of people who seek tech help are not tech-savvy, it's why they're seeking help in the first place.
3. When you break it down, all she did in the first video was advise a concerned individual that they were being scammed, explain the scare tactics being used and how apple's activation lock security simultaneously protected the person's data and prevented anyone from using that phone. Her indirectly saying she worked for apple, to me, just helps validate the information she's providing can be trusted. If she said anything remotely negative and/or specifically said "she works for apple" in her first video then apple's reaction would be understandable.
4. To the people who are saying she's doing this for views or she shouldn't talk about where she works...in the first video she doesn't specifically say where she works. Does she refer to it in a way that makes it obvious? Yes but SO many people do this with the companies they work for. It's pretty standard. We referred to it as the "fruit picking store" if we mentioned it outside of work. I do agree that the second video should not have been done if she wanted to defend herself and keep her job however at that point, I honestly doubt she cared and I don't blame her either if this is how apple reacted.
In summary:
1st video: Nothing wrong with it as it's just helpful advice and there's nothing in apple's employment contract that indicates it was a policy violation which required disciplinary action or is a sackable offence.
2nd video: Could understandably be sacked for but considering the interactions with her apple manager after the 1st video, it's unlikely she'd have posted it if she cared about keeping her job at that point and I wouldn't defend her if they did let her go.
"for the last six years I've been a certified hardware engineer for a certain company that likes to talk a lot about fruit."
That is not explicit enough for you? It left you confused as to where she worked? You seem confused as to what is going on here. This has nothing to do with her noble intentions and from your post I get that you think that is entirely what it is about and that she is being punished for trying to do good. "Good grief," that is so not what it is about.
She broke explicit company policy and then went public with her complaints when Apple notified her. Termination is appropriate. She may be a very good engineer, but she is not very smart at all. Any chance she had of getting off with just a note to her file and a simple admonishment went out the window when she went public after her manager notified her.
What I see in so many of the comments is not a lack of compassion or caring or understanding. There is a lot of that and I commend it. But there is huge lack of experience as managers and understanding setting and executing policy as well as the true cost of exceptions. I don't think many of the posters have experience on the management or executive side of a large tech operation.
I agree with you and I think we're on the same page where we think the first vid is fine but the 2nd video is crossing the line. My issue is people having a problem with the first video and saying that was wrong when all she was doing is giving helpful advice and didn't even specifically say she worked for apple.
How long has it been since you worked for them?
I am told something very different by an Apple executive I know well. I am told she violated some pretty specific policies that she explicitly agreed to as a condition of employment.
I also know that policy and employment agreements for those working in retail whether it be on the floor, as a tech or in any capacity don't have a lot in common with those engineers and development related jobs not connected to retail.
While I respect your experience an knowledge as an ex-retail employee, I don't think it is germane to this.
you say she broke explicit company policy...please tell me the wording in the policy that indicates this...
Maybe we should start posting links to the profile of Apple Employees who has crap on their profile and clearly states they work for Apple.
One of them even have a Steve Jobs and Tim Cook meme, is that more appropriate?
Yeah yeah Apple treats all employees equally, just like they treats all developers equally.
One of them even have a Steve Jobs and Tim Cook meme, is that more appropriate?
Yeah yeah Apple treats all employees equally, just like they treats all developers equally.
2 years ago. And if they updated the company policy since then i'll hold my hands up and say i'm in the wrong and as apple never give statements then I guess we'll never know unless someone posts the policy online
I watched her battery issues video. As much as the technical advice she gives is somewhat okay, the way she comes across is pretty repulsive.
Why doesn't everyone just understand she's being an attention-wh*re? The first video was fine. The second video was completely unnecessary. So some low-level manager came to her and said she should take it down, and when challenged they walked back on it and nothing. more. happened. Period.
She wasn't contacted by another senior manager or director.
She wasn't called into HR.
She wasn't suspended from work.
She wasn't put on probation.
She didn't lose her job.
Nothing.
So what was the whole point of her SECOND video, outlining how she called them out and now putting Apple's back against the wall?
CLICKS.
LIKES.
ATTENTION.
She just wanted to let everyone in the world know how SHE was in control and in the right, and how DARE her employer address a video in which she is, essentially, representing the company? Saying 'a company that likes to talk about fruit' while showing screenshots of an iPhone is specific enough.
My dad used to say that if someone said 'hey everyone, look at me!' they're just asking to be made to look like a fool. Play with fire, get burned. If you put yourself on a pedestal, you're just asking to be knocked off.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with her first video, and when the manager talked it out, he likely re-thought his position and that's why nothing further was done. So how about that? Apple backed down. But now they're being pushed, and I don't blame them if they now review her other videos and cut bait.
She wasn't contacted by another senior manager or director.
She wasn't called into HR.
She wasn't suspended from work.
She wasn't put on probation.
She didn't lose her job.
Nothing.
So what was the whole point of her SECOND video, outlining how she called them out and now putting Apple's back against the wall?
CLICKS.
LIKES.
ATTENTION.
She just wanted to let everyone in the world know how SHE was in control and in the right, and how DARE her employer address a video in which she is, essentially, representing the company? Saying 'a company that likes to talk about fruit' while showing screenshots of an iPhone is specific enough.
My dad used to say that if someone said 'hey everyone, look at me!' they're just asking to be made to look like a fool. Play with fire, get burned. If you put yourself on a pedestal, you're just asking to be knocked off.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with her first video, and when the manager talked it out, he likely re-thought his position and that's why nothing further was done. So how about that? Apple backed down. But now they're being pushed, and I don't blame them if they now review her other videos and cut bait.
there's a lot of anger in your post. who hurt you? 😂 People post stuff on social media. welcome to 2022. Your last paragraph is basically nonsense as it's entirely made of assumptions. "he likely re-thought his position and that's why nothing further was done". You even assumed the gender of the manager. the situation hasn't ended and it's still being investigated based on her last posted video.
One thing I will agree with you on and a few people have mentioned, if she has earlier videos of her saying bad things about customers and now she has specifically said she works for apple then that's grounds for her to go.
You may choose to believe as you wish and try to back me into a corner. I have read in multiple places and been told by two people I know who work in Cupertino that policy was broken. Their information is good enough for me. Not my problem if it isn't enough for you.
Feel free to call Tim Cook for clarification. I am sure he would be glad to speak to you about it. Have fun arguing with yourself!
Except... it sounds like the "policy" she violated is completely made up by the manager on the spot. If others on social media are identifying themselves as Apple employees, explicitly, shouldn't this person be treated equally? That's a huge issue with corporations - lack of equal application of the rules. One department has an manager that holds an iron grip over their department while another department has a devil-may-care manager. Meanwhile, no one is held accountable for anything (that's a whole other discussion, however).