According to a complaint filed with a US labor regulator on Tuesday, Apple (AAPL.O) has restricted employees’ use of the workplace messaging service Slack, limiting their capacity to engage in protected speech and organization.
Slack, which allows users to form on-the-fly group conversations, was introduced by Apple a few years ago and has grown in popularity as a discussion forum during the pandemic, according to various employees.
It has also been utilized by Apple employees who push for wage parity, remote work, and other causes within the corporation. Apple updated moderation rules for the platform on Oct. 25, according to a lawsuit filed by former employee Janneke Parrish with the US National Labor Relations Board.
A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment. The firm has previously stated that it does not discuss individual employee situations, but that it is “truly dedicated to building and maintaining a pleasant and inclusive workplace,” and that it takes “any concerns” from employees seriously.
According to the complaint, which includes a screenshot of a message describing the policy, Apple’s policy states that employees cannot create new Slack channels “without management’s knowledge and support.”
According to the complaint, posts about workplace difficulties must be directed to a manager or the “People Support” group.
After playing a significant role in employee activism, Parrish claims she was fired in October. The accusation is part of a larger effort by Silicon Valley workers to speak up about their working conditions and the impact of technology on society. Employee activism has been especially noticeable at Apple, which is notorious for its secrecy.
