Female employees at Apple allege systemic pay discrimination and a culture of abuse, sparking a major lawsuit. The #AppleToo campaign has exposed deep-rooted issues of discrimination, racism, and sexism within the tech giant. Meanwhile, industry peers Google and Oracle have faced hefty settlements for similar allegations.
Apple Faces Allegations of Gender Pay Disparities
Apple is accused of systematically underpaying women compared to their male counterparts, according to a potential class action lawsuit filed by two employees. The lawsuit, brought in San Francisco state court, claims that the company’s hiring practices and performance reviews result in lower pay for women.
Lawsuit Could Involve Thousands of Employees
The lawsuit suggests that over 12,000 current and former Apple employees could be eligible to join the suit if it’s certified. This action highlights long-standing concerns about gender pay equity within the tech industry.
Plaintiff Motivated by Disparity Revelation
Justina Jong, one of the plaintiffs, joined the suit after discovering a male colleague’s W2 tax form, revealing he earned significantly more for similar work. This discovery spurred her to take legal action, feeling the need to address the disparity.
Hiring Practices Under Scrutiny
The lawsuit argues that pay discrepancies start during the hiring process. Before 2018, Apple allegedly asked candidates about previous salaries to set pay levels, a practice now barred by state law.
Salary Expectations Influence Pay Levels
After the law change, Apple began asking candidates for their salary expectations, which the lawsuit claims still results in lower pay for women. The plaintiffs argue that these practices continue to disadvantage female employees.
Apple Asserts Pay Equity Achieved
Apple asserts that it has achieved pay equity since 2017. The company has been contacted for comment regarding the ongoing lawsuit.
Performance Review System Alleged to Be Biased
The lawsuit also claims that Apple’s performance review system is biased, favoring men with higher scores on subjective metrics like teamwork and leadership. This alleged bias further perpetuates pay inequality within the company.
Female Employees Report Abuse and Bullying
In 2022, female Apple employees reported experiencing sexual abuse and bullying, receiving apathetic responses from the company’s HR department. Apple stated it investigates all misconduct allegations thoroughly and aims to foster a safe reporting environment.
#AppleToo Campaign Highlights Workplace Issues
In the previous year, employees launched the #AppleToo campaign to highlight discrimination, racism, and sexism at the company. The campaign, inspired by the #MeToo movement, aimed to expose gender-based abuse within the workplace.
Google Settles Pay Discrimination Lawsuit
In 2022, Google agreed to pay $118 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging pay discrimination against female employees. This settlement marked a significant acknowledgment of gender pay disparities within the tech giant.
Oracle Resolves Equal Pay Case
This year, Oracle paid $25 million to settle its own equal pay case. The settlement reflects ongoing efforts to address and rectify pay inequality in the tech industry.
