New Report Delves Into Poor Working Conditions at an Apple Maps 'Black Site'

[MadeTheSwitch]

People can be so soft these days.

There are far worse conditions than a freaking office, lol. Understocked vending machines? Lines in the bathroom? Are they serious?

Don’t forget the color of badges. The horror! Clearly these are not real grievances. If these are the things being focused on, then there must not be any real problems.

"Former workers described a poor work environment with understocked vending machines,"

tells the whole story.

FYI, most vending machines are owned and maintained by an outside company.

And wouldn’t actual Apple employees have the same issue with unstocked vending machines? Or do they have secret fully stocked vending machines located in their Apple only restrooms?

 

[macsrcool1234]

I live in the real world. Life isn't all rainbows and sunshine...and you don't have to torture anything to realize that.

Yeah because basic human labor laws are asking too much.

Try again.

 

[Neepman]

Working for apple maps is like the biggest loser job in the company. But having said that I know people that have been real apple employees making "mid-6" a year and even they could not wait to leave the place once they were vested.

 

[dzankizakon]

Understocked vending machines

Oh, stop, I’m about to faint...!

 

[Apple_Robert]

I am working on manufacturing some out----oops beachball struck me---rage.

Life can be cruel. wear a helmet.

 

[sirozha]

Don’t forget the color of badges. The horror! Clearly these are not real grievances. If these are the things being focused on, then there must not be any real problems.



And wouldn’t actual Apple employees have the same issue with unstocked vending machines? Or do they have secret fully stocked vending machines located in their Apple only restrooms?

Apple employees get free snacks.
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Working for apple maps is like the biggest loser job in the company. But having said that I know people that have been real apple employees making "mid-6" a year and even they could not wait to leave the place once they were vested.

They are making about half a million dollars?
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If they want to drive or walk by, certainly. But I don't want to be included in the billionaire corporation's street view maps.

A view of your house from a public street is not yours to block. Move out to the woods and have a long private driveway if you don’t want your house to be seen.

 

[amartinez1660]

Don't complain, just quit!

Yes complain, so that we all can avoid that exact same situation don’t you think?

 

[ronno]

Having worked for a contractor at Apple twice, I can 100% vouch for the idea that a "caste" system is in place. First off, they give you badges with a silver color, and all Apple Standard employees have a colored badge. You get looked down upon by EVERYONE when they see your badge. You can't use the company facilities like gym, pool, and can't pay for your lunch via your badge like other employees. When 3rd-party vendors come in to do demos, you aren't allowed to see them. On product launch days, you don't get details on new products, and aren't allowed to say things to customers on the phone that someone next to you might be able to say just because they're an actual Apple employee. All of your calls are live monitored in real time. I've seen people say something incorrect on the phones and they will literally come over to their desk on the phones and when they hang up, tell them to pack their things and please exit the building, escorted by security.

I was in the sales department, but there were absolutely unreasonable metrics set that were borderline unattainable, even by top reps that were contractors. Contractors also have different metrics than standard employees. Also, Apple pays these staffing companies comparable to what they pay internal staff, and then those staffing companies (Volt, I'm looking at you), take almost half, and leave you with $15-$17 per hour, with no commission.

All the while, they dangle this carrot of "If you do well, Apple will hire you directly". In my two contracts of a year and a half total, I saw probably 3 people get hired out of 600 contractors that were utilized during that period.

It's a ******** way of doing business. Granted, I was young and wanted the work experience, which is why I did it. However, I would NEVER recommend it to anyone, and suggest finding gainful employment elsewhere.

I was a contractor at Google, and it was the same situation. You work through a third-party employment agency (tons and tons of people there are “contractors”), and it’s a caste system. It’s depressing so I left.
Apparently they are trying to outlaw such rampant use of “contractors” in California because it’s simply an easy way for these companies making huge profits to avoid paying benefits for everyone who works there.
As an aside, Apex keeps trying to recruit me via LinkedIn...and I’m not interested ;-)

 

[Roger67]

Apparently apples do have excrement and it smells, contrary to many forum comments.

 

[CylonGlitch]

"it was made pretty plain to us that we were at-will employees and they would fire us at any time."

Welcome to working in California, most companies do this now.

 

[PseudoRegister]

That’s actually one thing they weren’t allowed to do (the Apple mention [on their resume]).

How do they control what you put on your resume? The thing about being a "contract employee" (presumably) is that there is a contract. If the contract doesn't specify what one can and cannot put on one's resume, then one may put whatever one wants on it. Especially if it's true.

It does seem that many so-called contract employees in California aren't really contract employees. That is, they don't have contracts with Apple, nor do they have contracts with their actual employer, in this case Apex. Their complaint isn't with Apple, it's with their employer.

If you hire a business to paint your house, you have a contract with that business owner. That business owner hires people to do the actual painting. If those painters don't feel they're getting paid enough, or feel the business owner should be providing them with health benefits, do you expect them to complain to you? And would you feel obligated (or empowered) to adjust their employment conditions?

 

[MacGekko]

Apple employees get free snacks.
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They are making about half a million dollars?
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A view of your house from a public street is not yours to block. Move out to the woods and have a long private driveway if you don’t want your house to be seen.

I don't need to justify anything to you but I will report that Paul McCartney has blocked his house on Google Maps, if it is good enough for a Beatle, it is good enough for me. Oh and what are the numbers, 80 to 90 percent of German homeowners did the same thing, I guess they kind of have a more privacy centric worldview considering a bunch of thugs rounded many of them up in the 1930's.

If you do a little reading you'll see that both Bing Maps and Google Maps offer you the option to block your house, partly because of lawsuits and Apple's Tim Cook is running around boasting about Apple and their dedication to privacy. OK, if Apple wants to seize that as a selling point, they should match Microsoft and Google.

Your opinion is of no consequence in this matter but thanks for offering it.

 

[Steve121178]

So, enjoy Apple Maps developed by unhappy workers. You thought all those map errors in Apple Maps were there by mistake? Think again. And don't be surprised if next time Apple Maps will route your way home over the cliff.

I use Google Maps & Waze. Apple Maps was dead on arrival here in the UK where I live.
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If you read the summary, that is exactly what one of the complainers did, they quit. Or are you trying to say they can't say anything bad about Apple?

Of course not. But if you are unhappy with your employment then quit & move on. Everyone is easily replaceable.

 

[aleksander]

This reminds me of various mafias exploiting people on fruit & veg pick up farms here in old socialist Europe. Makes the dent in the glossy Apple logo all the more meaningful. The sad thing is that Maps could be so much better should Apple open up the platform to local users for editing, for free.

 

[T-R-S]

there are always slackers who whine and complain about having to actually work at their jobs....
I had an employee who complained about having to work 40 hours in week.
40 hours thats about 2.5 days for me

 

[jazz1]

When I used to employ temporary workers for events, I always treated them with respect. Why treat them any different as regular employees?

 

[maverick28]

I live in the real world. Life isn't all rainbows and sunshine...and you don't have to torture anything to realize that.

The real world isn't all about torture either. Why the idea of compromise between labor and the employer isn't so obvious for you? We don't live in the early 20c. Social progress is not wasteland of history.

 

[Tech198]

So, not good then ?

One would hope these "long walks" to would be treated to a comfort air-conditioned office or cubicle.

 

[Ubuntu]

How do they control what you put on your resume? The thing about being a "contract employee" (presumably) is that there is a contract. If the contract doesn't specify what one can and cannot put on one's resume, then one may put whatever one wants on it. Especially if it's true.

It does seem that many so-called contract employees in California aren't really contract employees. That is, they don't have contracts with Apple, nor do they have contracts with their actual employer, in this case Apex. Their complaint isn't with Apple, it's with their employer.

If you hire a business to paint your house, you have a contract with that business owner. That business owner hires people to do the actual painting. If those painters don't feel they're getting paid enough, or feel the business owner should be providing them with health benefits, do you expect them to complain to you? And would you feel obligated (or empowered) to adjust their employment conditions?

I agree, especially if it's not in the contract but there's always a grey area. I'm an iOS contractor myself (but in a different market) and I often do have to play the "it's not in my contract" card to protect myself from regulation issues (because if these activities make me seem more like a permanent employee in disguise the government will tax me as a permanent employee). I've had more than my fair share of awkward meetings with managers because of this so I wouldn't be too surprised if these contractors were getting pressured into things that aren't defined in the contract, especially when they could easily just find an excuse to fire you.

And for your last question, no - I'd take up my complaints with the entity I report to.

 

[sirozha]

I don't need to justify anything to you but I will report that Paul McCartney has blocked his house on Google Maps, if it is good enough for a Beatle, it is good enough for me. Oh and what are the numbers, 80 to 90 percent of German homeowners did the same thing, I guess they kind of have a more privacy centric worldview considering a bunch of thugs rounded many of them up in the 1930's.

If you do a little reading you'll see that both Bing Maps and Google Maps offer you the option to block your house, partly because of lawsuits and Apple's Tim Cook is running around boasting about Apple and their dedication to privacy. OK, if Apple wants to seize that as a selling point, they should match Microsoft and Google.

Your opinion is of no consequence in this matter but thanks for offering it.

I can take a picture of your house from the public street and post it online. There's not one thing you can do about it. Learn a little about the law.

 

[MacGekko]

I can take a picture of your house from the public street and post it online. There's not one thing you can do about it. Learn a little about the law.

Again you must go back and read my posts again, I did not write anything about the legality of a citizen taking a public picture. We are discussing a corporation, no need to go into all of the myriad of ways a corporation needs to think differently from a private citizen. Of course Apple could tell people who complain to go ____ and most would be powerless to do anything about it.

Only inside the walls of Apple are the answers to when they feel they must act one way or the other but in this instance there are many factors that will compel them to allow for an opt out.

And lo and behold they responded to my email and asked for me to scan a utility bill and attach it with my reply. Now of course I think they should follow Microsoft/Google who require no such thing but not a big deal. Since they are offering to delete me from their Maps, I shall go ahead and opt out.

And that is where we come to the point that your opinion does not have much weight in this situation and thus I don't have to plant any extra shrubs although I have been considering adding a few or move to a wooded private section of the country but not a bad idea either, thank you.

 

[sirozha]

Again you must go back and read my posts again, I did not write anything about the legality of a citizen taking a public picture. We are discussing a corporation, no need to go into all of the myriad of ways a corporation needs to think differently from a private citizen. Of course Apple could tell people who complain to go ____ and most would be powerless to do anything about it.

Only inside the walls of Apple are the answers to when they feel they must act one way or the other but in this instance there are many factors that will compel them to allow for an opt out.

And lo and behold they responded to my email and asked for me to scan a utility bill and attach it with my reply. Now of course I think they should follow Microsoft/Google who require no such thing but not a big deal. Since they are offering to delete me from their Maps, I shall go ahead and opt out.

And that is where we come to the point that your opinion does not have much weight in this situation and thus I don't have to plant any extra shrubs although I have been considering adding a few or move to a wooded private section of the country but not a bad idea either, thank you.

If my opinion doesn't matter, why do you keep responding to it?

Regardless, this service is useless if anyone can have the picture of their house blurred. What's the point of running the trucks up and down every road if the view of the houses is going to be blurred?

Also, I would be pissed if my tenant sent Apple his/her utility bill and have my house blurred from the Maps. Blurring people's faces and license plate numbers is one thing; blurring the houses is quite another. If you bought a house seen from a public street, it should appear on the view from the public street. I disagree with Apple here. I know, my opinion doesn't matter. You've said it already several times; no need to repeat yourself. You start sounding quite annoying when you do.

 

[MacGekko]

If my opinion doesn't matter, why do you keep responding to it?

Regardless, this service is useless if anyone can have the picture of their house blurred. What's the point of running the trucks up and down every road if the view of the houses is going to be blurred?

Also, I would be pissed if my tenant sent Apple his/her utility bill and have my house blurred from the Maps. Blurring people's faces and license plate numbers is one thing; blurring the houses is quite another. If you bought a house seen from a public street, it should appear on the view from the public street. I disagree with Apple here. I know, my opinion doesn't matter. You've said it already several times; no need to repeat yourself. You start sounding quite annoying when you do.

Your post read as annoying from the start when I wrote to inquire about Apple's opt out procedure and you wrote that I should move to a house blocked by woods, akin to posting for someone to get a better job if they are hoping for Apple to lower the price of an Iphone.

The service is not useless if people blur their houses, the primary use is for an accurate map with accurate directions, the street view is an added service to help one navigate those directions, you don't lose any of that with a house blur, nobody needs to see a private citizen's home, you can still get accurate directions to any home.

 

[sirozha]

Your post read as annoying from the start when I wrote to inquire about Apple's opt out procedure and you wrote that I should move to a house blocked by woods, akin to posting for someone to get a better job if they are hoping for Apple to lower the price of an Iphone.

The service is not useless if people blur their houses, the primary use is for an accurate map with accurate directions, the street view is an added service to help one navigate those directions, you don't lose any of that with a house blur, nobody needs to see a private citizen's home, you can still get accurate directions to any home.

You can be as offensive as you wish. I don't care.

The street view is for being able to view the structures along the roadways. Before I book my vacations, I use the Google's street view to see what the area looks like, and the structures along the route are important to me. I don't care what the pavement looks like. Blocking structures that are visible from the public roadways invalidates the entire project. In fact, I almost booked 31 days in Quebec via Airbnb until I used the Google Street View to see the chalet that I was planning to book. Then, I changed my mind and found something with a much better view. I have chosen places to stay in Europe based on Google Street View several times.

The view of buildings is important. That's my opinion. I will keep it. You can keep yours, of course. The tone of your comments speaks volumes of what kind of person you are.

 

[MacGekko]

You can be as offensive as you wish. I don't care.

The street view is for being able to view the structures along the roadways. Before I book my vacations, I use the Google's street view to see what the area looks like, and the structures along the route are important to me. I don't care what the pavement looks like. Blocking structures that are visible from the public roadways invalidates the entire project. In fact, I almost booked 31 days in Quebec via Airbnb until I used the Google Street View to see the chalet that I was planning to book. Then, I changed my mind and found something with a much better view. I have chosen places to stay in Europe based on Google Street View several times.

The view of buildings is important. That's my opinion. I will keep it. You can keep yours, of course. The tone of your comments speaks volumes of what kind of person you are.

I'll take that as a compliment coming from you, once again your logic is off as you won't be making any vacation decisions based on houses in suburban neighborhoods but even if somehow that's your thing, 100 percent of the houses won't be blocked but even if they are, go check out the pictures of houses in the neighborhood up for sale on real estate sites, go research the public stats on that neighborhood.

Anyone renting on Airbnb is not going to blur their house and street view blur does not block the view. If you have some inane reason to view Average Joe's suburban/rural/city house who wants his or her privacy then drive to that location.