Apple’s retail stores carry the company’s brand and culture around the world, but really, each location has its own personality based largely on the management staff.
Now, staffers at the Alderwood Mall (Wash.) retail store say their complaints about “abusive” management and possible state and federal labor law violations at the store have been ignored by the company, and they are threatening to stage a walk out at 1 p.m. on October 3rd to protest. If it occurs, it would be the first such labor action by Apple store employees. According to insiders, the employees’ complaints haven’t been fully investigated by the company’s human resources department.
After reaching an impasse with Sr. VP Retail Ron Johnson over the issue, a group of Specialists, Geniuses and Creatives say they will walk out to bring attention to their complaints, and that several former employees will join the protest.
[IFO - The comments have been closed, but read all 144 comments that have been posted to obtain a better perspective on the retail operation.]
http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2009/09/22/store-discord-may-result-in-employee-walk-out/
Wow, that’s funny. I formerly worked in a different Seattle-area store, and I thought the Alderwood management were all bitches, but that U Village’s manager was WAY worse, so whatever floats their boat! Go Alderwood!
ReplyDeletePearl September 22, 2009 at 6:16 am
Management makes all the difference. I had a wonderful experience at Apple and had a great management team to work with at my store. However I heard horror stories from other nearby stores. Things have changed a lot though from the early days of Apple Retail when managers knew nothing about Macs. Most managers I have met have been using Macs for a while.
ReplyDeleteIt is true what Miguel says though about replacing the workers at that store. They should probably replace everyone who walks out as well as the managers and start with a clean slate. I’ve heard that for every opening they get 10-20 resumes. Especially in this economy it won’t be hard to find replacements.
Johnny Mozzarella September 22, 2009 at 7:00 am
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.
ReplyDeleteI will not even go into the break/lunch situations.
Anonymous September 22, 2009 at 8:11 am
i opened one of the chicago area locations when i was only 18. i thought i was the coolest of the cool, a hipster before hipsters were around. the first year was way more fun than the boring library job i had held previously.
ReplyDeletethen it got worse. and worse. and then got to what name_withheld has described. and got worse. again, i need to stay vague (because who knows what is being read and what isn’t), but i left (or, as apple would say, i was terminated – since i got a letter from them saying so 6 weeks later) after some pretty spineless “fearless feedback” – i was not skinny enough or pretty enough to work there anymore. this was right when apple really started changing their corporate polices [so a couple years back, for those who remember the good ol' days] and began hiring more for their image than for their product.
everything about metrics, inventory control, and even training – all true.
that’s all i feel comfortable saying knowing that the non-disclosure agreement i signed was vague enough that, for all i know, i could still be under its control.
another ex-apple employee September 23, 2009 at 11:13 pm
True accounts…
ReplyDeleteTo Whom This May Concern.
I write this email with reference to Xxxxxxx Xxxxx who has recently been given the opportunity of a new role at Apple. Please accept this email as a formal complaint against Xxxxxxx Xxxxx as we believe Apple are totally unaware of the kind of character they have taken on board for such a high profile role.
Below I have highlighted a few of my concerns and would request that they are thoroughly investigated before the decision is made to hand over the new role to her.
* Since her time at Apple in Regent Street the head count has severely suffered, also a number of these cases have been taken up to a tribunal to dispute the decision,
* All appeals have been rejected regardless of what evidence is put forward.
* All cases have surprisingly involved people of ethnic backgrounds, including the evidence to suggest only people belonging to a non ethnic background seem to get promoted within the store, prompting major concerns that the management at Regent Street is racist.
* There have been several racial comments made by fellow colleagues of a non ethnic background and upon investigating have not been dismissed, whilst anyone of a ethnic background has always been dismissed.
* Any complaints made about ASM’s are always dismissed and then you are victimised.
* ASM & leads never investigated for misuse of company assets for personal gains.
* ASM’s continued mistakes are always passed over to subordinates.
* Xxxxxxx Xxxxx gave a false witness statement and lying at a tribunal regards a ex employee when it was really about another employee.
* Apple store lateness policies only put in practices on ethic staff all times and dismiss not the case when fellow white employees.
* ASMs involved in unprofessional behaviour relocated, whilst similar cases with any specialists tend to be treated with serious actions by HR.
* Number of occasion staff have tried to make complaints but have failed due to bullying methods used at Regent St & HR.
These are some of the issues that have prevailed since her role at Apple Store, Regent St. It is shocking news that such a person has been given the chance of a high position considering her behaviour to staff, and enacting company procedures.
In conclusion we believe that you should investigate these allegations where evidence can be provided for each statement. Please note this email is to direct and inform Apple that there are those whom have worked hard to and continuously tried to further their career but due to their ethnic background or whatever reason other reason that Apple has yet to justify, the opportunities have not been given to them, whilst those in management levels have taken advantage to progress in their career.
Unknown Apple Employee September 24, 2009 at 2:33 am
I applaud everyone who has posted comments and shed light on what really happens at Apple stores.
ReplyDeleteI left a UK branch over a year ago for many of the above reasons. I know how it felt to be victimised and pushed out by management. Our store had only been open a couple of months when it all started to begin.
I hope all these comments are seen by HR and things change for the better.
Michael September 24, 2009 at 5:38 am
Bully is very common at London flag ship store by middle management. Since I have been there the high turn around of staff coming and go due to ASM’s also bully.
ReplyDeleteSounds wrong but if your black or asian will suffer the most.
Unknown Apple Employee September 25, 2009 at 2:44 am
I agree with the previous comment. As I was personally involved removing un-liked employees by management and HR.
ReplyDeleteAs they say shit happens in it.
Gurpreet Dhoot September 25, 2009 at 2:48 am
worked at an Apple Store for close to 3 years, and my last 3 months were hell. The manager from another store took over and slowly brought his people over, and pushed all of us out. Literally made it unbearable to work there.
ReplyDeleteOne manager physically assaulted a friend and fellow employee, I think he should sue them. He’s no longer there, but I know it plagues him. The management team there now is the worst I’ve ever experienced.
I’ve got stories of Gappers (Former Gap Managers) brought in, because they rarely promote managers from within. These idiots don’t know anything about Apple, or any proper philosophy of management. One of them actually had sexual relations with one of the staff, she’s a complete moron.
I’ll never step foot in that store again, and it seems to be a trend for their new stores to hire morons. At least maybe they could hire people who know how to use a Mac.
John Smithe September 25, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I am a former employee of almost 2 years. My intial experience was pleasant but I’m sure that was somewhat subject to the rabid internal propaganda the company uses. A change of management resulted in a turn for the worse. I recall numerous complaints from employee’s about unprofessional behavior and clique-games started by new managers. Furthermore, I noticed a huge turn in customer satisfaction. In fact, you could count on a manager to take a slight problem and turn it into a debacle. For example, I’ve had numerous customers who would give a bratty attitude and a manager could easily diffuse the situation by doing a POS override or “open box swap” and they would deny it. I’ve seen managers turn people away just before closing hours for people who wanted to purchase something small (charger, cable, osx disc, headphones) and when they would exhibit that they were upset manager would laugh while saying “sorry” and closing and locking the door behind them.
ReplyDeleteI’ve stood by on several occasions as the store manager and senior assistant manager were accused by customers of being “rude”, “detached”.
My experience with corporate would lead me to use the same words as these disgruntled customers.
I have made a huge turn from being Apple fanboy who was happy to work and help people to believing/realizing that Apple and it’s products are no more special than any other corporate machine on the planet.
Hassan September 25, 2009 at 9:36 pm
“You never worked at Apple? That explains everything. You don’t know anything.”
ReplyDeleteYep. Your inability to engage in any rational discussion is noted.
Fact: I worked in retail for years.
Fact: I advanced to a management role in retail.
Fact: I have run several manufacturing companies with as many as 70 employees.
Fact: I am well versed in management principles as well as management expectations.
Fact: My companies all performed at levels several times the industry average.
Fact: My employees respect me and greatly like working for me – as verified by anonymous, independent third party surveys.
Fact: You call me a liar based on nothing other than your personal belief that anyone who disagrees with your narrow view of the world must be lying – even though I know what my employees earn and you obviously don’t.
Fact: You have no experience other than working as a low paid retail clerk for an Apple store because you’re clearly incapable of any more. Your major work experience involves whining about how terrible it is that you only make $10-12 per hour for working in a climate controlled, mall environment.
You really need some exposure to the real world before telling me that I don’t know anything.
Joe Anonymous September 26, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I copied these comments from one other. Please add your. thoughts
ReplyDelete