Apple is facing an investigation into whether it retaliated against the defendant

The U.S. Department of Labor is investigating Apple, claiming it has reimbursed an employee who complains of harassment at work and as a result of unsafe work practices.

Ashley Gjovik, 35, was the chief engineering officer for six years at Apple when he was was removed in September for the sake of revealing secrets.

Gjovik, who regularly posts on Twitter about allegations of harassment, supervision and security at work, alleges that he was fired on a regular basis following numerous complaints that led to more than a dozen retaliatory cases, including reinstatement.

The Department of Labor declined to comment but confirmed its findings in a letter to Gjovik seen by the Financial Times, dated December 10.

Stephen Kohn, a U.S. attorney and forensic pathologist, said the burden of evidence needed to open the investigation was overwhelming because the employee had already received enough evidence to prove, unless he was convicted, could prove it. the case.

He also said that the case will be scrutinized because it is a very serious matter for a staff dispute with Big Tech to “get public”. The labor department has not yet investigated such cases, he added, due to the spread the use of non-disclosure agreements to “reduce and intimidate whistleblowers”.

Apple declined to comment on specific employee issues, citing confidentiality, but said: “We are committed and have been very committed to finding and maintaining a safe and cohesive workplace. We take care of everything and thoroughly investigate any issues.”

Mary Inman, head of international media at Constantine Cannon’s law firm, described the case as “good-for-nothing” as Joe Biden’s supervisors showed great hostility. keep companies accountable.

Last month, the attorney general of the Department of Labor announced a plan to work with other security agencies to protect workers from discrimination and wrongdoing.

For Apple, this research could be a major obstacle to this year’s labor disputes sharing ideas inquiring more about the company’s use of non-disclosure agreements. The notion that the iPhone manufacturer has developed its own privacy policy in the workplace is protected by state and federal laws.

Gjovik’s first complaint came in mid-March, when he raised concerns about “drug contact” at his Apple office in Sunnyvale, California. The site is in the Superfund area, which needs special supervision due to damage to hazardous debris on the ground floor of the building.

After Apple sent an e-mail requesting a site test for “steam infiltration”, Gjovik’s inquiries into the matter were denied by Apple’s employment department. “They are threatening me not to talk about my safety,” Gjovik said.

The Department of Labor will see to it that Apple reverses its claims about job security and waste management, along with a third lawsuit under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Sox, which sets the rules for maintaining financial records.

Gjovik also referred to a possible dispute over Apple board member Ronald Sugar, chairman of the finance committee, as he was chief executive of Northrop Grumman, a security company that oversees the disposal – and repairs – of waste products under the Sunnyvale office. .

Sugar was not immediately available for response.

Gjovik’s case was “very strange” and interesting because of three different laws that might have been broken, “said Michael Duff, a former lawyer with the National Relations Labor Board.

“Federal agencies use what is known as prosecutorial discretion,” he said. “They are very careful in cases that go forward because they have shortcomings, so they have every reason to believe they can win.”

Other notable investigations by the Department of Labor include allegations that Google has a “system” problem. low-paid female workers. The lawsuit was settled out of court this year, with the petitioner seeking $ 3.8m in damages.

Palantir, a data analytics company, in 2017 he paid $ 1.6m department of labor to address cases of discrimination against Asians by hiring engineers.

Seth Goldstein, a pro-bono lawyer who has been representing Amazon workers in the face of unfair employment practices, said Gjovik’s actions show that his generation wants companies to adhere to their values. He states: “The sea is indeed changing because people are still standing in the right place.