Apple Settles with US Department of Justice for $25 Million
Alright, let’s dive into the hot potato of the day. Apple has agreed to pay a whopping $25 million to settle claims made by the US Department of Justice. What’s the fuss all about, you ask? Well, it turns out that the Cupertino giant has been accused of illegally favoring hiring immigrant workers over US citizens and green card holders for certain jobs.
The PERM Program and Apple’s Alleged Violations
So, here’s the deal. The issue revolves around the permanent labor certification, or PERM program. This program requires companies to prioritize and hire permanent US residents. To do so, organizations must prove that there aren’t enough US workers available and be certified by the Department of Labor and US Citizenship and Immigration Services if they want to prioritize hiring immigrants. According to the US Department of Justice, Apple failed to advertise job openings eligible for PERM on its website, which it usually does for other positions. On top of that, the company required all applicants to mail paper applications, even though it typically allows electronic submissions. Sneaky, right?
Implications and Apple’s Response
Now, you might be wondering how Apple benefited from these recruitment procedures or which positions were affected. Unfortunately, the DOJ didn’t disclose those details. However, it’s worth noting that using foreign workers can often be cheaper than hiring US citizens, and immigrants relying on employers for green card sponsorship are less likely to switch jobs.
Apple, in response, admitted to “unintentionally” failing to follow the DOJ standard. The company stated, “We have implemented a robust remediation plan to comply with the requirements of various government agencies as we continue to hire American workers and grow in the US.”
Apple’s Settlement and Commitments
As part of the settlement, Apple will pay $25 million and agree to follow the rules when it comes to recruiting for PERM jobs. Additionally, the company will conduct more expansive recruitment efforts and provide anti-discrimination law training to its workers.
Apple’s Commitment to Inclusion & Diversity
Now, let’s take a moment to talk about Apple’s commitment to workforce diversity. The company prides itself on valuing diversity and has released an Inclusion & Diversity report every year since 2014. In fact, the most recent report shows that Apple’s US Underrepresented Community Representation has reached an impressive 50%. Kudos to them!
However, it’s important to note that Apple takes inappropriate behavior seriously. Just ask Tony Blevins, the former vice president of procurement for Apple, who left the company last year after making an inappropriate comment about “big-breasted women” in a TikTok video. Apple doesn’t mess around when it comes to maintaining a respectful work environment.
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