Decoder with Nilay Patel

How Slack changed Apple’s employee culture, with Zoë Schiffer

4 snips
Sep 7, 2021
Guest
Zoë Schiffer
Zoë Schiffer, Senior reporter at The Verge, known for her insights on Apple's workplace culture, dives into the evolving dynamics at Apple. She discusses how Slack has become a vital platform for employees to express concerns about pay equity and remote work policies. Employees are pushing for greater transparency and inclusivity, amidst rising discontent and advocacy for change. Schiffer highlights the challenges faced by employees in discussing sensitive topics like pay and the increasing push toward empowerment and potential unionization in the tech industry.
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ANECDOTE

The Antonio Garcia Martinez Incident

  • Apple hired Antonio Garcia Martinez, who wrote a controversial book, causing internal dissent.
  • A Slack channel and letter, initially private, became public, leading to Martinez's swift firing.
ANECDOTE

Return-to-Office Pushback

  • In early June, Tim Cook announced a three-day office return policy, sparking employee pushback.
  • A "Remote Work Advocacy" Slack channel formed, reflecting employees' resistance to the new policy.
INSIGHT

Slack's Impact on Apple

  • Apple introduced Slack in 2019, inadvertently facilitating employee organization.
  • This allowed employees to connect across departments and discuss issues like return-to-office policies, unlike ever before.
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