The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a new complaint against Apple, accusing the tech giant of unlawfully restricting employees’ rights to advocate for improved working conditions. The complaint, issued on Thursday, claims that Apple violated workers’ rights by limiting their use of Slack and social media for collective activism, firing an employee who spoke out, and even pressuring another worker to remove a social media post.
This is the second NLRB complaint against Apple in recent weeks. Last week, the board accused the company of enforcing illegal confidentiality, nondisclosure, and noncompete agreements, along with imposing restrictive social media and misconduct policies. These accusations come at a time when Apple’s workplace culture is under heightened scrutiny following multiple activist efforts by employees.
According to the NLRB complaint, Apple’s work policies unlawfully limit the ways in which employees can discuss workplace conditions. The complaint alleges that Apple fired employee Janneke Parrish in 2021 after she used Slack and social media to advocate for workplace changes, including permanent remote work, pay equity, and addressing issues of sex and race discrimination within the company. Parrish had also been involved in organizing employee activism at Apple, which the NLRB claims is a protected activity under federal labor law.
Furthermore, the NLRB claims Apple has implemented an overly restrictive policy on the use of Slack, which prevents employees from creating new channels without managerial approval. According to the complaint, any discussions regarding workplace concerns are required to be directed to managers or a designated “People Support” group. These measures are alleged to discourage employees from discussing workplace issues in a public forum, even internally.
In a statement provided on Friday, Apple’s spokesperson maintained that the company is committed to fostering “a positive and inclusive workplace” and takes employee concerns seriously. However, Apple also reiterated its strong disagreement with the claims, stating, “We strongly disagree with these claims and will continue to share the facts at the hearing.”
In response to the earlier NLRB complaint, Apple denied any wrongdoing, asserting that it respects employees’ rights to discuss their working conditions, including wages and hours.
If Apple does not settle the case with the NLRB, an administrative judge will hold an initial hearing in February. Should the judge rule against Apple, the decision can be reviewed by the five-member labor board and ultimately appealed in federal court.
Parrish, who filed the initial complaint nearly three years ago, was dismissed in 2021 after playing a lead role in organizing worker activism. Her lawyer, Laurie Burgess, expressed confidence that the upcoming trial will hold Apple accountable for what she described as “extensive violations” of workers’ rights. Burgess also emphasized that Apple’s actions, particularly its restrictions on Slack and social media use, violate workers’ fundamental rights to discuss workplace issues.
Burgess further stated, “We look forward to holding Apple accountable at trial for implementing facially unlawful rules and terminating employees for engaging in the core protected activity of calling out gender discrimination and other civil rights violations that permeated the workplace.”
The complaint seeks to compel Apple to rescind its allegedly unlawful policies and compensate Parrish for lost income and other damages resulting from her termination.
This case could have far-reaching implications for workplace communication policies in the tech industry and beyond. As companies increasingly turn to digital tools like Slack and social media to facilitate internal communications, the legal landscape regarding employees’ rights to discuss labor conditions in these platforms is evolving. Apple’s case, in particular, highlights the balance that employers must strike between managing workplace communication and respecting employees’ rights to engage in collective advocacy.
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