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Lynwood, Washington Apple Retail Store Employees May Stage Walk-Out

I apologize for the comments that I made above. Not for the comments, but the reactions that it caused. My point was to sort of poke fun, more at the other story and the coincidence that exists between the Washington store and the Washington based-company and what not. What I did may or may not have been appropriate, had I known the generally off-topic comments were going to follow my off-topic comment, I would not have made the comment I did.

It does not matter what kind of unemployment situation that exists currently, situations that exist in other companies or countries or any other matter. Without knowing much details there are a couple of thoughts I have regarding the matter. It's serious, and even if it turns out to be limited, anytime their are accusations of (mass) mistreatment in the workplace it is serious. The fact that there are as many complaints as rumored and that employees have met with the vice-president of retail stores is indicative of how serious it is and how serious Apple knows it to be.

The fact that there is a threatened walkout is also serious. This is not the NBA Referees negotiating a labor contract, this seems to stem from what is perceived to be breaks in either contract or ethical commitments by the employer to the employees.

Apple is aware of how serious it is. To say that they do not read sites like this one would be ludicrous. And, they clearly would not have sent a vice-president to meet with employees if it was a minor manner. (I understand it might be routine for corporate to check on local outlets, but most stories seem to indicate that there was meeting(s) regarding this issue specifically.) Apple also has a reputation and given how they have handled other issues like this, I imagine it will be handled swiftly and privately.

As for the excuses.
It does not matter that we are in a recession or that there is large unemployment right now. The employer has certain obligations it should be expected to uphold and the fact that a company that is not suffering from an economic downturn decides not to uphold them because of an economic decline would be sad. However, I am not saying that is Cupertino's reasoning. Rather, it's a "they should not be whining" comment. Also, if every other store in the country gets those standards there is no reason why there should be an exception made.

It does not matter that Apple or its sub-contractors treat workers badly in other places. A worse instance in other place doesn't excuse a wrong. That logic justifies things like "Stalin killed forty million citizens, so the Holocaust isn't really that bad..." Two separate issues, but two wrongs don't make a right. (Three left turns make a right however)
 
daveporter said:
If they walk off the job I hope that Apple locks that doors, opens their files, interviews candidates, hires new staff and reopens within a week so that those in other stores get the picture.

I can tell you that the store in my area, Jacksonville, FL, has great staff members that know what their doing and are always willing to do what ever it takes to help a potential or repeat customer. I guess that is what happens when you have a store in a "right to work" state where "union" type actions are not tolerated; you get and keep great staff persons and not whiners.
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Oh yea. Totally. From the description that you posted it sounds like whining. I understand standing up and bringing attention to actual workplace abuse... but this is pathetic.

Just quit and find another job!! I can tell you they could do worse than the Apple store. :p
 
thedbp said:
Actually Genii is a common colloquialism used by Apple Retail employees. I know its not a real word, tard.
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Genii is a real word, and at one point in time, the only correct plural form of the word genius. In Latin the plural of -us is -i.
 
daveporter said:
Don't even get me started on the break/lunch situations complaints. Too bad if you have to work through your lunch or break from time-to-time
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It is against the law in Washington State to have employees work thru lunch or breaks. If Apple is really doing this, they have a lot more to worry about then so called "whiners" walking off the job.
 
Amen.

It's amazing that so many people here automatically assume that Apple is in the wrong and behaving "unethically", without knowing any facts. Just because a low-level employee says they've been wronged doesn't mean they have.

Also, simply doing a basic job (and many jobs in retail are basic) doesn't entitle you to the American dream. Your average Apple retail sales job requires very little--if any--training and specialized skill-set. Being knowledgeable about Apple's product line and being a "people person" doesn't make you a valuable employee, or spare you from the particular demands and vicissitudes of retail sales, or guarantee you a "career path".

If you don't want to be treated like you're a dime a dozen, then go out and develop hard-to-acquire skills so that you can perform a useful job that the vast majority of people can't do.

Time for Apple to bring in the Pinkertons....:)


daveporter said:
They are just a bunch of whiners that don't like management having authority over them.

Here is one comment by a disgruntled employee posted here: http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2009/09/22/store-discord-may-result-in-employee-walk-out/ :

"As a current employee for nearly two years, I can see how this could happen and wouldn’t be surprised if more stores did the same. First off, the pay is horrible. Most employees are part-time and in order to be considered full-time (which is considered a promotion) you have to be great at not only selling Apple products but also selling “solutions”. Services such as MobileMe, Applecare, One to One and Procare which on average are an extra $129 each. Second, there is no sort of commission for doing so whatsoever. Then if you are not doing well on those you get picked on by management and reminded that in order to be consider for “full-time” you must get your percentages of “solutions” up."

Every thing that management "did" to this person was perfectly OK. What is wrong with rewarding only high achievers with full-time jobs and promotions. Apple is not a welfare state government department; its a for-profit company. Welcome to the real-world kiddies, this is how the big boys play. Quite whining and start learning how to do your job!

Don't even get me started on the break/lunch situations complaints. Too bad if you have to work through your lunch or break from time-to-time when there are a lot of customers in the store...what is Apple supposed to do? Have sufficient staff present at all times to handle the high traffic periods and then have staff standing around with their thumb up their a-- the rest of the time?

So typical of "union" mentality.

If you don't like where you work, then go find some place that you like better (if you can) or just shut up and do your job.

As I said earlier, Apple could replace them all within a week with no problem (and they should).
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This situation is fine for humor, and it was a okay joke.

I can not believe that with the revolving door of apple store employees that some have lasted long enough to plan a walkout.

Seemed to me when I worked there that anyone not drinking the punch disappeared.
 
Don't even get me started on the break/lunch situations complaints. Too bad if you have to work through your lunch or break from time-to-time
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It is against the law in Washington State to have employees work thru lunch or breaks. If Apple is really doing this, they have a lot more to worry about then so called "whiners" walking off the job.
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Yeah not having breaks is a big-deal, like getting in trouble with the law. Missing a 10-minute occasionally isn't that bad, during holiday it happens. It gets made up when you take a 10 and the food court lines were long so you needed to take a few more minutes. But half hours are important. I work in retail and work in a store often understaffed, we still make time for halves because it's required and fair. Say I get to work at 11 and am schedule till 6, I sorta deserve some time to eat food don't I? Good management tries to overlap shifts properly to cover peak periods/break times, and schedule breaks in lulls. For example between 130-230 and then 530-630 most people are in the food court in my mall, perfect time to get a lot of breaks out of the way
 
Sounds great but...

With people needing jobs badly enough I'm sure they could just fire all of them at once and refill the staff 24 hours later. Not that I don't think they have been treated badly but it would just be too easy to replace everyone at one tiny store.
 
I agree with those employees 100%. Except a walkout would be more dramatic if you didn't plan it weeks ahead and tell the world.

I quit an Apple store because a manager approached me saying "You did this... someone told me that they heard someone else talking about you doing this." (What "this" is, is irrelevant because it was not true anyways, he assumed negative intent in the first place).

The same manager also pressured customers into buying add-ons. Literally, pressured right before my eyes, although things like that can be subjective.

I had even seen a former manager pay cash for a MobileMe, return it the next day, to help his friends, who were current store managers to meet their goal.

Apple has problems, I'm glad this retail staff is taking the initiative to improve things. I'm also glad Google is about to pounce on Apple like a snow leopard.
 
They had REALLY better know what they are doing.

Especially if you work for a company that is run by Steve Jobs. You might find yourself and everyone else at those stores fired the day before the planned walkout.
 
This happens

BVGuitarPlayer said:
I agree with those employees 100%. Except a walkout would be more dramatic if you didn't plan it weeks ahead and tell the world.

I quit an Apple store because a manager approached me saying "You did this... someone told me that they heard someone else talking about you doing this." (What "this" is, is irrelevant because it was not true anyways, he assumed negative intent in the first place).

The same manager also pressured customers into buying add-ons. Literally, pressured right before my eyes, although things like that can be subjective.

I had even seen a former manager pay cash for a MobileMe, return it the next day, to help his friends, who were current store managers to meet their goal.

Apple has problems, I'm glad this retail staff is taking the initiative to improve things. I'm also glad Google is about to pounce on Apple like a snow leopard.
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Again this happens all the time in retail. If a store is close to it's target $$ for the day (and I mean close) normal for a manager to buy something just to make the quota, then return it the next day.

Hugh
 
BVGuitarPlayer said:
I agree with those employees 100%.
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What do you agree with them most about? What is most agregious abuse they endured?

Seriously, how can you agree with them 100% when you know nothing about the details of their claims?

It's bizarre. People coming down on the side of Apple or the Empoyees - when you don't have any facts to base it on.
 
I was reading about this on some other sites and people were talking about the job being 'stressful'. One guy even said that he became an alcoholic due to the stress. (yea right)

Seriously, what's so stressful about working there?

I can see some employees taking shlt from irate customers (and you know who you are). I understand that Genius Bar folks have more contact with unhappy people than others. Some customers take a long time to decide before spending their money, some ask a lot of questions, some customers don't get it at all and ask the same things over and over.

I don't get the stress. One price, no haggling. One policy from Cupertino. One display set up.

Are these just idealistic, whining kids or is there a real problem in that store? I read reports about nepotism, favoritism, being forced to sell Mobile Me and Apple Care. Stress???? Just wait until they grow up, get a real job, have a family, and real responsibilities and finally discover what REAL stress is.
 
Is anyone really surprised?

It is no secret that Steve Jobs himself has been known to create a "hell-on-earth" work environment over at Apple HQ (screaming fits, firings, fits of rage) on occasion. When your CEO is known to be a complete prick, unpredictable and intolerant of any failure, and you work at a company where that is acceptable because "he helps invent really cool stuff", then you should expect this kind of attitude to trickle down to the little people as well. Don't get me wrong, I love the products they make, and Steve Jobs has definitely done some great things for consumer electronics, but I don't see how this is surprising. We all know that the work environment at Apple is anything but laid back and easy going.

You culture you promote is expressed not only through the products you make, but how you treat people who help you make those products...but that is just my opinion. Hopefully this changes things for people over at Apple for the better.
 
thedbp said:
My guess, having worked in a bunch of Apple Retail stores over 6.5 years, is that they aren't getting breaks, management is aloof and out of touch, they are being asked to accomplish more than any one person can reasonably accomplish, rampant nepotism and favoritism, being lied to and strung along by management, there is no career path other than retail management - which most Genii and Creatives aren't interested in, they curtailed the only program available to get from retail to corporate, and many many many other ways of dehumanizing, using, and otherwise abusing people for the sake of profit. And it wouldn't be so bad if Apple weren't making money hand over fist as they steadily drop the average wage of their most skilled workers.
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OMG, it sounds like a ... a... a ... job!!!!
 
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