U.S. labor board accuses Apple of illegal workplace rules – report

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint accusing Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) of imposing unlawful workplace rules that violate employees’ rights, Reuters reported.

The complaint, filed on October 1, 2024, asserts that Apple (AAPL) forced employees to sign confidentiality and non-compete agreements as well as enforced overly broad misconduct and social media policies.

Apple (AAPL) is being accused of “interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees” in exercising their rights, which includes discussing wages and working conditions.

In response to these allegations, Apple (AAPL) stated that it “strongly disagrees” with the claims and insists it respects employees’ rights to discuss their working conditions.

If the case is not settled, it will be set for a hearing in January 2025, the report said.

The current complaint stems from earlier charges filed by Ashley Gjovik, a former senior engineering manager, who alleged that Apple’s (AAPL) policies deterred discussions about pay equity and sex discrimination with each other and the media.

Apple (AAPL) is currently dealing with multiple legal challenges related to labor practices, including two other pending cases with the NLRB.