Apple fires 800 employees for stealing

[CHR]

According to ars technica, Apple has fired nearly 800 employees for stealing from the company.

Apple might be a little upset with some of its retail employees who scored free iPhones this summer. For those who didn't hear, Apple promised a free iPhone to every fulltime employee and all part-timers who have been with the company for over a year—including retail associates and Geniuses. The company made good on its claim, and we never heard much of a complaint about the program.

Unfortunately, we have now heard through two independent sources that a few of these lucky retail employees let their greed get the best of them. We've been told that as many as 800 Apple Store retail associates who received free iPhones have also cashed in on the $100 iPhone credit that Apple issued for early buyers. Apple understandably wasn't too happy about shelling out an extra ~$80,000 to employees who already scored free iPhones, so pink iSlips have apparently been issued to the bunch.

Whether all employees have been notified or if some have yet to get called on the offense, we aren't sure. It's also unclear why Apple did not take measures to prevent this from happening, assuming the reports are true. It should be noted, too, that Apple retail went through a hiring spree just a couple of weeks ago—is it possible that Apple attempted to replace most of the employees it was planning on firing before actually firing them?

Edit: Apple has attempted to respond to our request for comment, but did not comment on the story.

As the article asks, should Apple have taken measures to prevent employees from filing for the credits in the first place? No doubt, once discovered, they'd have little trust for staff members who set out to scam them.

Is this just another example of employees thinking "'the company' has loads of money so what's a hundred bucks to them?"

Not sure what percentage of the retail store staffs this number represents, but my guess is it's more than just a couple percent.

Would you terminate an employee who tried to rip your company off like these Apple employees allegedly did?

I would.

 

[mb0509]

According to ars technica, Apple has fired nearly 800 employees for stealing from the company.
As the article asks, should Apple have taken measures to prevent employees from filing for the credits in the first place? No doubt, once discovered, they'd have little trust for staff members who set out to scam them.

Is this just another example of employees thinking "'the company' has loads of money so what's a hundred bucks to them?"

Not sure what percentage of the retail store staffs this number represents, but my guess is it's more than just a couple percent.

Would you terminate an employee who tried to rip your company off like these Apple employees allegedly did?

I would.

Me too. My employee handbook (even though I only have 1 PT employee) states that "conduct detrimental to the best interests" of my shop will result in termination. I was thinking designers taking away weddings and doing them on their own, drivers driving badly, etc when I put this in but I would use it in this case too.

Mary

 

[theRKF]

As Seth Godin said - this move is marketing in its purest sense. They are delivering a loud and clear message to their employees and customers. Think any other Apple employees will consider stealing from the company in the near future after a drastic move like this?

Ryan

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Oh it's a message about stealing all right. But I also think the timing of the hiring of new employees is key - Apple HR dept is no dummy. Very clever way to shuffle employees, and weed out the chaff.

Yes, I would fire for stealing.

tracy