Slack, which allows individuals to create on-the-fly group
conversations, was rolled out a few years ago by Apple and has become
increasingly popular as a discussion forum during the pandemic, multiple
employees have said.
Apple employees who advocate for pay equity, remote work and
other causes in the company have used it as well. On October 25, according to
the complaint by former worker Janneke Parrish to the US National Labor
Relations Board, Apple introduced moderation rules for the platform.
"It gives the appearance of surveillance of employees'
protected speech activities," said the complaint, a copy of which was
reviewed by Reuters.
An Apple spokesperson declined to comment. The company has
previously said it does not discuss specific employee matters but is
"deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive
workplace," taking "all concerns" from employees seriously.
Apple's policy holds that workers cannot create new Slack
channels "without management's knowledge and support," according to
the complaint, which includes a screenshot of a message detailing the policy.
Posts about workplace concerns must be directed to a manager
or the "People Support" group, according to the complaint.
Parrish says she was fired in October after playing a
leading role in employee activism.
The charge comes amid a broader push by Silicon Valley
workers to speak out about their working conditions and the impact of
technology on society. The employee activism has been particularly striking at
Apple, which is known for its secretive culture. © Reuters
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