U.S. labor board files complaint against Apple over employee rights

A U.S. labor board issued a complaint late on Monday accusing Apple of violating federal labor laws by enforcing a series of unlawful workplace policies that hinder employees' rights to organize and advocate for better working conditions.

The complaint, filed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleges that Apple required employees across the country to sign illegal confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements. It also claims that Apple's misconduct and social media policies are overly broad, resulting in the company "interfering with, restraining and coercing employees" as they exercise their rights under the federal labor law.

Apple responded to these claims through a spokesperson, saying that it respects employees' rights to discuss wages, work hours and working conditions. The company firmly disagreed with the accusations and expressed its intent to present facts during the hearing.

If a resolution is not reached, an administrative judge will hear the case in January. The NLRB is seeking to require Apple to retract the disputed policies and inform its U.S. workforce of their legal rights. Decisions made by an administrative judge can be reviewed by the full NLRB board, and rulings can be appealed to federal courts.

The origins of this complaint trace back to 2021 when Ashley Gjovik, a former senior engineering manager at Apple, filed charges against the company. She claimed that Apple's confidentiality and social media rules discouraged employees from discussing workplace issues, such as pay equity and sexual discrimination.

She also pursued legal action in May, filing a lawsuit in a California federal court alleging that Apple retaliated against her for her NLRB complaints and organizing of other workers. A judge recently dismissed much of her lawsuit but allowed her the opportunity to amend certain claims.

Apple currently faces additional NLRB complaints. Two other pending cases include allegations that the company wrongfully terminated an employee at its Cupertino headquarters for criticizing management and interfered with a unionization campaign at a retail store in Atlanta. The company has denied any wrongdoing in these cases.

(With input from Reuters)