An Apple retail worker has provided Business Insider details on how it really is to work at an Apple retail store in the UK. The interview paints a picture that is not as rosy as what one might have been led to be believed.
The interview is unusual because every Apple staffer signs a confidentiality agreement on their first day in the job, which apparently prevents them from speaking publicly or announcing their new employment on social media, and even bans them from taking a selfie wearing their Apple T-shirt.
The anonymous retail worker, who worked at Apple’s retail store from 2011 to late 2015, reveals that Apple pays its retail store workers £8 per hour (around $11.70), which is not even sufficient for them to buy the very products that they sell. To make matters worse, the company does not give any bonuses to its employees, even if they sell thousands of pounds of devices every day or get some enterprises customers onboard. The only bonus that Apple gave its retail workers in return is recognition.
The worker claims that although positions in the company’s stores are highly prized, Apple doesn’t promote internally in the UK either, and that staff are prevented from transferring from part-time to full-time employment as a matter of policy.
The employee also shares his experience of working at Apple’s retail store, which was thankless and were he/she was treated like “shit.” The employee reveals that about 60% of the customers who walk in with some issues don’t usually have a genius bar appointment booked or have looked about it online. And then, they complain about the device and just act rude to the retail employees.
The employee also recalls an experience where he/she received a death threat for an out-of-warranty fix. Since the employee refused to fix the product within warranty, the customer threatened him/her and said that they would run him/her down with their car. The employee says that retail employees routinely receive death threats from some customers.
They did try to fix that with a ‘Lead and Learn’ program, where you train on the shop floor by acting as a manager without being a manager. We had some great people on the shop floor, people who had been there for five years, who were selling more than anyone else. But they were still just specialists or experts [two of the lowest ranked positions at Apple].
As far as I’m aware — and I’m still in contact with these people — no-one on this programme has been promoted to manager. There are other jobs in-store that can earn you more money, but they’re technical jobs, like working at the Genius Bar, which a lot of people absolutely hated because you’re dealing with really angry customers.
There are some benefits to working in Apple’s retail stores though. Beside a generous discount on Apple products, employees are also given a 15% discount on APPL shares, and in some cases, direct access to CEO Tim Cook.
Apple declined to comment when contacted by Business Insider. The in-depth interview – which also reveals what happens if you come to work carrying a Samsung phone – can be read in full here.
Source: Business Insider