It's funny - i can tell many of y'all have never worked in retail and it shows - i wish everyone was forced to have a general public customer service job, it would humble the shit out of you.

So if it sucks so much why don't these people leave retail?

“you're homeless? just like…buy a house bro”

Could you explain why they are unable to move on from the job they hate? The only reason they would be unable to is if they are lazy or stupid.

Edit once again nobody here has two braincells to explain why these retail workers are precious and helpless little snowflakes who can't possibly get a different job.

This specific store has serious management issues. It is way worse than other Apple stores.

Apple needs to look into the management here.

People don't quit jobs they quit managers. I know someone that went from $120k a year to $60k a year because of hating a manager.

I opened that store in Maryland. I worked in the smaller one they had before that one opened and was there on the first day. I quit in May 2013 to ultimately start my own business but I can say that there were good managers and bad managers. The general manager was never around and had no idea what was going on and wanted me to rat on the lazy workers when I did my “anonymous” exit interview which went straight to his inbox. I made less than $40K working full time and that was after receiving a cost of living wage bump. The benefits were good with steep discounts on products and stock purchasing options. But management would constantly implement new strategies for the workflow of the room and how you handled support appointments, where people were positioned and the software we used to “check in” customers. They never gave it long enough to sink in before trying a new strategy. They were always busy and if someone called out I might find myself going 4 hours straight assisting people with tech issues before getting a bathroom break. We used to drink on our breaks just to ease the stress. But in the end you were a glorified customer service rep. From crazy customers on a daily basis being mad that they didn't backup their info or iCloud was full to constantly standing there as city kids walked through the store stealing phones and getting away with it. To the inability of Apple to be willing to promote the right people within the store. I'm so glad I left and never looked back. They deserve so much more. That store covers all of Baltimore City and County. There isn't another option even remotely close. They all should get a raise.

I worked in Apple retail for 7 years, and while there is a lot to dislike about the job, it's easily one of the best retail jobs you can get. Stupidly excellent health insurance, stock discounts, 401k matching, RSUs, education contributions…I challenge anyone to find those same benefits at a job where you walk by a fricking Auntie Anne's Pretzel shop every day.

Yes, the job is draining, the corporate kool aid is eye rolling, the customers irritating…but to suggest these things constitute “poor working conditions” is patently absurd.

I worked at this specific store for five years and I can completely understand their points. It was common that I would end up working 14+ days straight there due to shitty scheduling, often being there until 10:30 or 11 at night before having to be back there at 7 am the following morning for repairs. The store has been notorious for chewing employees up and spitting them out. It's entirely natural that the workers there would fight for change and would want a seat at the table — and after over a year of Apple negotiating in bad faith, the union has to utilize the tools at its disposal to achieve its goals.

Workers of any industry fighting for their rights in an era where ownership is further and further consolidating amongst an unaccountable class of the hyper rich is good for all of us.

And just because Apple retail is “better” than other retail jobs, like what do employees just go ok well we shouldn't complain then. Let Tim Apple and his $$$ executives treat us however

Fricking 🥾👅

These people wouldn't support the fricking weekend if we were discussing working conditions in the 1880s.

Ya, sounds like you and them should quit if it is that bad.

Every worker should have a union. We should be supportive of employees realizing they hold power over a trillion dollar company.

I wasn't surprised that the essence of the top comment here was, “they should be grateful”

Oh give me a break. It's a cushy retail job, it's not like they're tarring a roof in August or pulling a double at a hospital.

Instead of complaining because they have it good and others dont, help the roofers and nurses instead as well. Help them get unions and better conditions. We should be working towards making it better for everyone, not dragging people down to the worst industry imaginable.

These mfs have never done hard labor in their life.

Unions aren't just for hard labor jobs?

what exactly are their working conditions and what exactly are their demands? lay it all out as precisely as possible and I'll personally tell you who I think is right

From the article:

“The issues at the forefront of this action include concerns over work-life balance, unpredictable scheduling practices disrupting personal lives, and wages failing to align with the area's cost of living.

For further context (based on discussions with friends that used to work for Apple retail), Apple uses a scheduling service called Kronos to generate the work schedule. It's intended to distribute hours fairly, accounting for PTO/sick days/etc. However, the schedule it generates is erratic and unpredictable, and you don't get it with much advance notice, making it difficult to schedule things outside of work.”

And before anyone says some nonsense like “sorry you can't hang out with your friends”, this mostly impacts people with college classes, kids (especially those with extra curricular activities), second jobs, and medical appointments that ask for consistency.

Darn sounds just like working on an oil rig or in a sweat shop

So no one should fight for better working conditions because oil rigs and sweatshops exist?

It's an Apple Store. How thought of a job can it really be? Go work construction - those people need a union.

Why can't retail employees have a union, too? Have you ever worked retail? It absolutely sucks.

Family member of mine left construction for Uber because he thought it would be easier, turns out construction was easier. Construction is physically demanding but it's not a difficult job otherwise.

People are so fricking soft these days. World is screwed

“we refuse to bend to the whims of trillion dollar corporations so we're taking a stand!!”

“YOURE SOFT!!”

who are the soft ones here? people fighting for better lives or the ones taking it in the a** by a corporation like a good little worker?

😂 generations fought in wars but you fricking pillow huggers can't get out of moms basement safely enough to work

!neolibs !chuds !anticommunists

Controversy follows Gov. Kristi Noem as she is banned by two more South Dakota tribes https://t.co/Qg0J0CCY3e

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 12, 2024

Ok but seriously why the frick did they create two dakotas?? Isn't one enough???

If you ever wanna know why capitalism sucks, think about how many people you've known who wanna open a 24 hour coffeeshop and bookstore (with a cat) if they ever get rich vs how many rich people ever actually open a 24 hour coffeeshop and bookstore (with a cat).

— Josh Ellis (@jzellis) May 13, 2024

If you ever wanna know why capitalism sucks, think about how many people you've known who wanna open a 24 hour coffeeshop and bookstore (with a cat) if they ever get rich vs how many rich people ever actually open a 24 hour coffeeshop and bookstore (with a cat).

Like, the world would undeniably be a happier place if every town had at least one 24 hour coffeeshop and bookstore (with a cat). People would go there all the time. But maybe not enough to make a constantly increasing profit. Maybe not even enough to pay extortionate rent.

https://twitter.com/jzellis/status/1789815036166214092

Innovation is figuring out how to make a 24 hour coffeeshop and bookstore (with a cat) work in your town, not making VR goggles nobody has a use for or making phones so thin they blow away if you leave em on a table outside. Innovation is doing more with less, not less with more.

https://twitter.com/jzellis/status/1789815059201380413

Would you rather have a slightly thinner laptop that answers questions incorrectly with some built in AI chatbot, or a used record store where you can go and ask the nerd behind the counter what a good place to start with hardcore is?

https://twitter.com/jzellis/status/1789815061411770519

My pronouns are and

I have never made a more desperate plea that what I am about to say right now. @riotgames @RiotSupport I need you guys to fucking do something. I am an incredibly strong person and I have been streaming for a very, very long time. But absolutely nothing prepares you for someone… pic.twitter.com/Gr77uBsBrT

— TaylorMorgan (@TaylorMorganS_) May 13, 2024

A new law in Belgium celebrated by activists for providing a “labour contract” to prostitutes will also enable their pimps to punish them with a government mediator if they refuse s*x more than 10 times in a six-month period. The Belgian Parliament voted for the law on May 3, with 93 in favor, zero opposed, and 33 abstentions.

The legislation is being touted as a win by UTSOPI, the Belgium Union of S*x Workers, which had lobbied extensively for the legislation. The law outlines that prostitutes will receive health insurance, a pension, maternity and holiday leave, and unemployment benefits. Their pimps will be forced to provide them with a “safety button” to use for emergencies.

Their website claims that the law “is a historic step in the battle for s*x workers' rights” and will create a “respectful, fair relationship” between prostitutes and their pimps, with UTSOPI spokesperson Daan Bauwens telling media that he believes “Belgium is really demonstrating that it aims to protect s*x workers, regardless of any moral judgements about the profession people may have.”

Prostitutes are to be granted “rights” to refuse sexual acts, stop sexual acts, perform sexual acts in the manner they prefer, and refuse to sit behind Amsterdam-style windows (public facing windows where prostitutes are on display). However, should a prostitute use these “rights” 10 times within six months, their pimp can then call on a government mediator to intervene.

All pimps must have a registered office and apply to the Belgian government for approval to offer contracts to prostitutes. The contracts will be disguised as hotel-restaurant-café (HoReCa) contracts so that prostitutes can remain anonymous.

Andrea Heinz, a prostitution abolition advocate, called out the new legislation on X (formerly Twitter).

“There is little chance this will (actually) favour women. Under legalization/full decrim, pimps become ‘managers' with the backing of the state to further entrench and maintain their power. Pimps see women they sell as products, not people deserving of full dignity & respect.”

Outside the realm of so-called “s*x work” activism, social media users have expressed horror at the new law.

“So the [government] helps pimps to coerce s*x, what a disgusting idea,” posted X user @Bob16747466.

My dad always used to say that the way you build wealth is by building equity in your home.

My housing plan would help Americans achieve homeownership by giving households $400 a month for two years when they buy their first home. pic.twitter.com/TH0BObFbRM

— President Biden (@POTUS) May 10, 2024

If you haven't heard of Marvel Rivals, it's a team hero shooter (Overwatch) starring Marvel characters.

Nevermind why they're doing this - Overwatch hasn't been successful in years, !g*mers discuss - but recently early alpha codes were delivered with one stipulation:

absolutely no negative reviews allowed

https://twitter.com/A_Seagull/status/1789468582281400792

Yes you heard right, these chinamen thought they could ban playtesters from shittalking their game AND that no-one would spill the beans that they were forbidden from criticism

Naturally when this got out, they were quick to issue a bullshit PR response:

https://twitter.com/MarvelRivals/status/1789895401723822410

You don't have to read this. All it says is

We're sorry our shitty policy got leaked. We'll change it but only because you caught us.

Extra funny bonus content: the D-tier wannabe streamers sucking up to this obvious PR stunt in the Twitter replies by pretending it's a company that's "listening to feedback" (and then begging for codes for the alpha access )

https://twitter.com/Recall_YT/status/1789950703827358022

https://twitter.com/ThatzAwkwrd/status/1789966716300034229

https://twitter.com/Rakunvar/status/1790061761355284563

And tons of losers begging for keys without even bothering to kiss butt

Side-note: fellow !boomers I am so fricking sick of seeing "W response" on so many comments, it's not just that it's zoomer lingo that enrages me, it's that it's just a brain dead zero effort comment that contributes nothing, it makes me so fricking mad to see it