Ashley M. Gjovik

Archive: Apple Saga Posts


​My Apple whistleblowing saga... 
​
​I provided major updates in a chronological timeline as we through this nightmare together. 
​I only resorted to this because everything I tried internally had failed. 


​🎤

​Ashley Gjovik v. Apple - Legal Battle
Cases, investigations, & complaints

Summary

​     I worked at Apple as a Senior Engineering Program Manager for nearly 7 years. In March 2021, I raised concerns about the physical safety of my Apple office and was intimidated & told not to talk to colleagues about my concerns. My office was a Federal EPA Superfund site (the "TRW Microwave site") on top of a mile long groundwater plume of industrial chemicals and a long history of vapor intrusion (those chemicals intruding through the floor of the building & into the indoor air). Apple rented the building in 2015 and after some limited clean up & testing, moved employees in & never tested the air again despite a government lawsuit over vapor intrusion from the plume in 2019.
     As I continued raising concerns, Apple retaliated more & more. I notified the Federal & state EPA about my concerns about the building and about Apple's oversight and intimidation of employees. I also began organizing with other employees around concerns about retaliation & intimidation by Apple's HR & employee relations teams.
     Apple forced me on indefinite paid administrative leave on Aug 4th, despite my protests, under the premise that they were investigating my managers for discriminating against me. However, it was clear they wanted to stop me from organizing & collecting evidence and that they were trying to find a reason to fire me.
     I filed charges with the NLRB, EEOC, federal DOL, state DOL, and filed complaints to the SEC. I also started publicly sharing redacted internal documents related to my concerns about safety & labor at Apple, the retaliation I faced, and also the hostile work environments & abuse I was subject to since joining Apple in 2015. I did this out of desperation to ensure the public knew about the safety issues, Apple's cover-up & corruption, and out of fear of Apple trying to retaliate against me & other employees even more. Apple fired me on Sept 9th, with a certified interrogator from their "Workplace Violence" team reaching out and demanding an urgent meeting. Apple has yet to provide an official explanation of why they fired me.

Posts​


​This is a chronological timeline of events & posts starting in March 2021 through September 2021 with the information made public during that time.
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March 17th, 2021

Email from my team's administrative assistant about our office. The Apple EH&S team wants to test our office air to see if the gases from the poisonous chemicals under our building have "intruded" into the air we're breathing at our desks.
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My reply to my org's management team.
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​March 26, 2021: My SF Bay View Article is Published 
Apple knew about this. ​

"I thought I was dying: My apartment was built on toxic waste," SF Bay View, Ashley Gjovik [Mar 26, 2021], sfbayview.com/2021/03/i-thought-i-was-dying-my-apartment-was-built-on-toxic-waste/
April 5, 2021:
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April 6, 2021: 
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April 7, 2021: 
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April 7, 2021: Lobbying a State Senator for Public Health & Gov Reform 
Apple knew about this. 
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April 8, 2021: Meeting with the Mayor of Santa Clara about the SCS Apts
Apple knew about this. ​
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April 9, 2021: Email to Apple
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April 14, 2021
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​April 21, 202
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​April 27, 2021
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April 29, 2021
Meeting with the Mayor of Santa Clara about the Santa Clara Square Apts. Apple knew about this. ​
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​May 1st, 2021
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May 17-21, 2021
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Jun 3, 2021
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June 7th, 2021
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June 10th, 2021: Email to Apple

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June 22, 2021
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June 30th, 2021: Email to Apple

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July 2nd, 2021
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July 4, 2021
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July 14, 2021: Meeting with the Mayor of Santa Clara about the SCS Apts
Apple knew about this. ​
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July 16, 2021: Concerns for ER's 2nd Investigation 
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July 17, 2021: Twitter

​My Twitter account's first Tweet to build a media presence for my academic & advocacy writing. 
July 19, 2021: Open Kimono
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July 20, 2021: Email to Apple about General Lawlessness
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July 20, 2021: Posting in Internal Apple Slack about Unionization
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July 23, 2021: Quoted in The New York Times about Apple

"Delays, More Masks and Mandatory Shots: Virus Surge Disrupts Office-Return Plans," The New York Times, by Lauren Hirsch and Kellen Browning (July 23, 2021) ​[Access: here]
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July 23, 2021: First Tweet about Apple 
 
Sharing the NYT article I'm quoted in and also sharing the medical release form Apple tried to get me to sign, shared by Cher Scarlett. 
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July 23, 2021
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July 24, 2021: NYT Quote of the Day about Apple 

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"Quotation of the Day: Virus Surge Complicates Return-to-Office Plans," The New York Times, Ashley Gjovik (July 24, 2021) ​[Access: here]
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July 24th, 2021: Apple Internal Slack Post
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July 26th, 2021: Apple Internal Slack Post
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July 27th, 2021: Apple Internal Slack Post
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July 28, 2021: Email to Apple
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July 29, 2021: Email to Apple ER asking for List of Closed Concerns 
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July 30th, 2021: Apple Internal Slack Post about EAP/Leave 
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July 30th, 2021: Tweeted "MeToo"
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August 1st, 2021: MeToo & SoTired
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August 2nd, 2021: Tweeting Things Apple ER Says is "OK," & Show ER Each Time
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August 2, 2021
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August 3rd, 2021:  Reminding Apple Employees of Our Rights to Speak Out
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​August 4th, 2021
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​"Apple places female engineering program manager on administrative leave after tweeting about sexism in the office," The Verge, Zoe Schiffer (August 4, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Female Apple employee put on administrative leave following tweets about sexism in the workplace," Apple Insider, Mikey Campbell (August 4, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple engineering manager put on administrative leave after complaining about sexism at work," 9 to 5 Mac, Filipe Espósito (August 4, 2021) [Access: here]

"Apple exec says she was placed on leave after raising sexism concerns, other workplace issues," Fox News, Brie Stimson (August 4, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple places senior engineering program manager on leave after tweeting about sexism at work," iMore, Joe Wituschek (August 4, 2021) [Access: here]
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August 5th, 2021
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"A senior Apple engineer has claimed she has been placed on administrative leave after raising concerns about sexism and health and safety," The Telegraph, Matthew Field (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Senior Apple employee alleges sexism at work, is put on indefinite leave," Yahoo! Finance, Karissa Bell (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

"Charges of sexism at Apple​," Apple 3.0, Philip Elmer-DeWitt (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple Places Female Engineering Program Manager On Administrative Leave After Tweeting About Sexism In The Office," Verve Times, Adrian Jhonsan (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple sends female employee home after raising sexist concerns​," Inside Telecom, Rim Zrein (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple female worker sent on leave after raising sexism concerns," The Economic Times, IANS (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

"Apple suspende indefinidamente a la directora del programa de ingeniería después de sus tuits sobre sexismo en el trabajo," RT, (August 5, 2021) [Access: here] 

"Apple Female Employee Put on Indefinite Leave After Sexism Allegations," Tech Times, Isabella James (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

"Apple employee placed on indefinite leave after complaining about sexism," IT Pro, Sabina Weston  (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

"Apple suspende indefinidamente a la directora del programa de ingeniería después de sus tuits sobre sexismo en el trabajo – Mundo," Titulares, Jonathan Fortuna (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Female Apple employee sent on leave after raising sexism concerns​," Deccan Herald, IANS (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple Senior Engineer Says She Has Been Placed On Indefinite Administrative Leave Over Raising Sexism Concerns" Benzinga, Madhukumar Warrier (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

"Ashley Gjøvik suspendida por exponer sexismo en Apple," Síntesis, Redacción Síntesis (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

"Apple places employee on indefinite leave after she raises concerns about sexism," The Express Tribune, Tech Desk (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

​"White female Apple manager says she was put on leave for complaining about sexism and a hostile workplace," Daily Mail, Brian Stieglitz (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

"Apple Sends Female Employee on Administrative Leave After Tweets on Sexism at Workplace," Toolbox Tech, Karthik Kashyap (August 5, 2021) [Access: here] 
Aug 6th, 2021
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"Apple exec says she was placed on leave after raising sexism concerns," NY Post, Brie Stimson (August 6, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Senior Apple employee alleges sexism at work, is put on indefinite leave," Engadget, Karissa Bell (August 6, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple engineering manager placed on administrative leave after raising sexism concerns," The Ladders, Kyle Schnitzer (August 6, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple Gives Ashley Gjøvik Leave Indefinitely, Here's Why​," VOI, Editorial Team (August 5, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple put senior executives on indefinite vacation after she complained about sexism​," London News Time, Igor Mirren (August 6, 2021) [Access: here]

"Manager accusa Apple di sessismo, l’azienda la mette in congedo forzato," Mashable, Alessio Caprodossi (August 6, 2021) [Access: here] 
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August 7th, 2021

"Apple manager claims she was put on leave after ‘sexism’ tweet," Human Resources Director, Duffie Osental (August 7, 2021) [Access: here]

"Apple put senior executives on indefinite vacation after she complained about sexism," Texas News Today, Martin Ricker  (August 7, 2021) [Access: ​here] 

"Apple Places Senior Employee on Leave After She Complains of Sexism, ‘Tone Policing’," Breitbart, Lucas Nolan (August 7, 2021) [Access: here]

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​August 8th, 2021
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August 9th, 2021
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​"Apple places Ashley Gjøvik on indefinite leave as she complains about sexism at work," People Matters, Editorial Team (August 9, 2021) [Access: here]

​"Apple sends employee on indefinite leave for speaking up about sexism at workplace​," HR Kartha, HRK News Bureau (August 9, 2021) [Access: here]
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August 10th, 2021
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August 11th, 2021
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August 12th, 2021
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August 13th, 2021

"Apple's new Rebellious Culture is now Against their Company's decision to join the fight against Child Abuse Material (CSAM)," Patently Apple, Jack Purcher (August 13, 2021) [Access: here] 

"Give Feedback on Things That Matter to the Business, and Other Actions for Allies," Code Like a Girl / Better Allies, Karen Catlin (August 13, 2021) [Access: here] 
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August 14th, 2021
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August 15th, 2021
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August 16th, 2021
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August 17th, 2021

"An Apple engineer on leave after publicly alleging sexism says co-workers kept a scoreboard to make her quit," Business Insider, Yahoo News, MSN, Martin Coulter (Aug 17, 2021) [Access: here]  


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August 18th, 2021

"Una ingeniera de Apple que denunció sexismo en la compañía dice que sus compañeros de trabajo tenían un marcador para hacerla renunciar," Business Insider - Mexico, Martin Coulter (Aug 18, 2021) [Access: here]  ​
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August 19th, 2021
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August 20th, 2021
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August 21st, 2021
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TBD
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August 22nd, 2021
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August 23rd, 2021
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​"Apple employees are organizing to push for 'real change' at the company,"
 Engadget, I Bonifcic (Aug 23, 2021) [view: here]
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August 24th, 2021


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August 25th, 2021
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TBD
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August 26th, 2021
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"Apple Was the Most Secretive Company in Tech. Then it Developed a Slack Habit," The Information, Mark Di Stefano and Wayne Ma (Aug 26, 2021) [View: here]

"Apple's legendary workplace secrecy threatened by Slack," Apple Insider, William Gallagher (Aug 26, 2021) [View: here]

"AppleToo: Mitarbeiter:innen kämpfen mit Plattform gegen Rassismus und Diskriminierung bei Apple," Gentside, Sarah Kirsch, (Aug 26, 2021) [View: here]
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August 27th, 2021
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"Apple Workers say they've collected almost 500 toxic workplace stories," Engadget, Ivan Bonifacic (Aug 27, 2021) [View: here]

"#AppleToo: così i dipendenti denunciano abusi, molestie e discriminazione all'interno di Apple," Inside Marketing, Raquel Baptista (Aug 27, 2021) [View: here]
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August 28th, 2021
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TBD
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August 29th, 2021
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"iOS = Détresse", FactorNews (Aug 29, 2021) [View: here] 

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August 30th, 2021
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"APPLE CARES ABOUT PRIVACY, UNLESS YOU WORK AT APPLE: The company has taken a strong stance on safeguarding its customers’ data — but some employees don’t believe it protects theirs," The Verge, Zoe Schiffer (Aug 30, 2021) [View: Here] 

"Empregados da Apple relatam abusos de privacidade internos," MacMagazine, Bruno Santana, Aug 30, 2021) [View: here] 

"#AppleToo: se acumulan las denuncias por acoso en la empresa: Un grupo de trabajadores y exempleados dice que ya reunió casi 500 historias que cuentan casos de represalias y discriminación. La respuesta de la compañía" Reuters/TN, Aug 30, 2201 [View: here] 

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August 31st, 2021
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"Apple's Dedication To Privacy Is Missing When It Comes To Its Workforce, Employees Say," TechDirt, Karl Bode (Aug 31st 2021) [View: Here] 
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September 1st, 2021
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TBD
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September 2nd, 2021

"US labour board examines retaliation claims against Apple: Senior engineering program manager’s allegations include workplace harassment and job reassignment," Financial Times, (Sept 2, 2021) [View: here]

"National Labor Relations Board Fields Complaints About Apple," Bloomberg News, Nick Turner (Sept 2, 2021) [View: here]

"U.S. labor agency probes two complaints from Apple workers​," Reuters, Julia Love (Sept 2, 2021) [View: here]

"AppleToo organizer faces online harassment—some of it from coworkers​," Mashable, Rachel Kraus (Sept 2, 2021) [View: here]

"Apple bans employee Slack channel on pay equity," Computing UK, Dev Kundaliya (Sept 2, 2021) [View: here] 

Apple workers challenge company on toxic workplace culture. Workers participating in the #AppleToo movement say they have collected nearly 500 testimonies from employees about their experiences of discrimination, harassment and abuse at Apple," Computer Weekly, Sebastian Klovig Skelton, (Sept 2, 2021) [View: here]
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September 3rd, 2021

"Apple Accused of Retaliation After Workers Spoke Out on Pay, Harassment: The U.S. labor agency is investigating claims filed by two Apple employees," Gizmodo, Dell Cameron (Sep 3, 2021) [View: here]

"Apple faces probe from US labor board over complaints of hostile working conditions
Two employees have files a case with the US National Labor Relations Board," 
Engadget, M. Moon  (Sep 3, 2021) [View: here]

"Apple employees make US labour watchdog complaints," BBC, (Sep 3, 2021) [View: here]

"Apple Faces Investigation After Two Employees' Accusation of Retaliation for Speaking About Workplace Conditions," Tech Times, Isabella James, (Sep 3, 2021) [View: here]

"Apple employees allege harassment, retaliation: Two separate claims were filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board regarding the tech company’s employee treatment," The Hill, Alexandra Kelley, (Sep 3, 2021) [View: here]

"Apple’s Labor Day delays,"  Financial Times, Chris Nuttall [link]

"La Agencia Laboral de EE. UU. Investiga dos quejas de trabajadores de Apple," Noticiaspor el Mundo, (Sep 3, 2021) [View: here]

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September 4th, 2021
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TBD
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September 5th, 2021
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TBD
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September 6th, 2021 - U.S. Labor Day!
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TBD
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September 7th, 2021
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TBD
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September 8th, 2021
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TBD
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September 9th, 2021
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"Apple Fires Program Manager Who Accused Bosses of Harassment, Intimidation
Apple accused Ashley Gjøvik, a senior engineering program manager, of leaking 'confidential' information without further explanation,"
Gizmodo, Dell Cameron [link]

"Apple fires employee who spoke out on workplace issues, cites alleged leak," Mikey Campbell, Apple Insider [link]

"Apple fires senior engineering program manager Ashley Gjøvik for allegedly leaking information," The Verge [link]

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​Link: Sept 9 Termination Transcript
September 10th, 2021
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"Apple Fires Manager Who Complained; She Gains Right to Sue," Bloomberg [link]

"Program manager fired by Apple allegedly over workplace complaints receives right to sue from federal agency," Insider, Kali Hays [link] 

"Apple fires manager for leaking product information, employee denies charges," CNBC [link] 

"Apple fires Ashley Gjøvik, senior employee who alleged sexism at work: She recently filed a complaint against the tech giant with the US labor board," Engadget [link]

"Apple fires whistleblower who complained about workplace sexism. Ashley Gjøvik, an engineering manager in California, said she had been dismissed for leaking confidential information about the company," Telegraph, James Titcomb, 10 Sept 2021 [link]

"Apple manager fired after filing harassment complaints reportedly has US approval to sue company," CNET [link]

"Apple fired a senior engineer after she raised concerns over harassment," Input [link] 

"Apple fires manager for alleged leaks after she claimed harassment," NY Post, Will Feuer, September 10, 202 [link]

"Apple fires employee who complained about harassment over leak," iMore [link] 

September 11th, 2021

"Apple Sacks An Employee Who Spoke Out About Workplace Issues," Maria Del Luna  11 Sep 2021
https://www.techvisibility.com/2021/09/11/apple-sacks-an-employee-who-spoke-out-about-workplace-issues/​

"Apple fired Ashley Gjøvik for allegedly leaking information. Gjøvik spent months tweeting about workplace safety, surveillance and harassment," Mobile Syrup, 
https://mobilesyrup.com/2021/09/11/apple-ashley-gjovik-fired-leak-information-harassment-allegations/​

"Apple Fires Whistleblower After She Files a Case Against Company," Leaf and Core, Danielle 
​https://leafandcore.com/2021/09/12/apple-fires-whistleblower-after-she-files-a-case-against-company/

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September 18th, 2021
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"Tim Cook tries to quell unrest at Apple during a company-wide meeting, but only answers two questions from activist employees," Isobel Asher Hamilton, Business Insider, Sep 18, 2021
https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-addresses-apple-staff-concerns-only-answers-two-questions-2021-9
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For the latest updates, check my Twitter here: ​https://twitter.com/ashleygjovik



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  • Home
  • Latest Updates
  • My Writing
    • My Business Insider Op-Ed
  • My Photography
  • Ashley's Apple Story
    • Press on Ashley's Apple Saga
    • Apple Legal Battle
    • Apple's Intimidation & Propaganda Campaign
    • Archive of Apple Posts
    • Sept 9 Termination Transcript
  • Press Contact
  • Contact