The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has launched a legal action against Apple, accusing the tech giant of infringing on employees’ rights to advocate for improved working conditions by imposing a series of illegal work rules.
According to the complaint filed on Tuesday, Apple allegedly required employees across the country to sign unlawful confidentiality, non-disclosure, and non-compete agreements. Additionally, the company is accused of enforcing overly broad policies on employee conduct and social media use, which the NLRB claims violate federal labor laws.
The NLRB has criticized Apple for allegedly interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in exercising their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The agency demands that Apple revoke these contested policies and notify all U.S. employees of their legal rights.
If the matter is unresolved, Apple will face a hearing before an administrative law judge in January.
An Apple spokesperson stated that the company has consistently respected its employees’ rights to discuss wages, working hours, and working conditions, as demonstrated by its employment policies.
“We strongly disagree with these claims and will continue to share the facts at the hearing,” the company said.
This lawsuit follows allegations made by Ashley Gjøvik, a former senior engineering program manager at Apple, who filed a complaint in 2021. Gjøvik argued that Apple’s policies, particularly around confidentiality and social media, discouraged employees from discussing issues such as pay equity and gender discrimination, both with each other and publicly.
Apple is also currently embroiled in at least two other NLRB cases, which it denies, involving claims that it unlawfully dismissed employees who criticized management and obstructed a unionization effort at an Atlanta retail store.
Since 2022, unions have formed at two Apple stores in the U.S., and efforts are underway to organize several other locations. In May, the NLRB ruled that a manager at an Apple store in Manhattan had illegally interrogated employees about their union support.
Following the news, Apple’s stock fell 2.90%, trading at $226.24.
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