Microsoft hires Apple Store staff; potential employee walk-out
Microsoft courting Apple Store managers, staff
Citing anonymous sources, Jim Dalrymple at The Loop has reported that Microsoft has contacted "a number of Apple's retail store managers" in an attempt to hire them away. The employees have been promised "significant raises," and some were even offered moving expenses. The strategy also allegedly has a recruitment element to it.
"Once hired, the ex-Apple employees are then contacting some of the top sales people in the Apple retail organization offering them positions at Microsoft retail," Dalrymple wrote. "They have also been offered more money than what they made at Apple."
As Microsoft prepares to enter the retail market, it has taken a number of cues from Apple's successful brick-and-mortar stores. In fact, the Redmond, Wash., company even hired real estate expert George Blankenship, one of the cornerstones of Apple's early retail efforts, to consult on its first retail stores.
Apple's rival to the north will also mimic the Genius Bar with its own "Guru Bars," where customers would be allowed to make appointments and ask questions.
Microsoft intends to go head-to-head with Apple in the retail space. Some stores will even be purposefully located within proximity. The first face-off will take place in Mission Viejo, Calif., at The Shops.
Washington Apple Store walk-out planned by employees
Employees at the Apple Store in the Alderwood mall in Lynnwood, Wash., are apparently so upset with management that they intend to walk out in protest at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. According to someone familiar with the matter who contacted AppleInsider, it will include Mac Specialists, Geniuses and Creatives, as well as former employees of the location.
The info was also provided to ifoAppleStore, where it was noted that such an event would be the first known at an Apple Store.
On employee said that the store's "abusive" management has potentially violated the law, and alleged that Apple human resources did not conduct a complete investigation of the matter. The person said that employees talked with the corporation, including Ron Johnson, senior vice president of retail, but to no avail.
120 Comments
Not knowing what has, did, or was suppose to have happened - or not ? just remember folks, there is a VERY LONG line at the unemployment bureau
And oh yes, Apple, if you have been or are treating folks like dirt ? stop it and be big boys and do what's right.
Skip
PS Or is this just folks who don't like taking in all this money, and not getting more of it for themselves???
Wow...sounds like a bad apple!
sorry couldn't resist.
And oh yes, Apple, if you have been or are treating folks like dirt ? stop it and be big boys and do what's right.
I thought the employee was referring to the management of that store rather than the management of Apple, but I might be mistaken.
Washington Apple Store walk-out planned by employees
Employees at the Apple Store in the Alderwood mall in Lynwood, Wash., are apparently so upset with management that they intend to walk out in protest at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. According to someone familiar with the matter who contacted AppleInsider, it will include Mac Specialists, Geniuses and Creatives, as well as former employees of the location.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
That's Lynnwood, not Lynwood. I visit this store a couple of times a month, and it is always crowded. I'm very interested to see what happens with this. I'll be there on the 3rd to talk with the employees and see what happens.
I thought the employee was referring to the management of that store rather than the management of Apple, but I might be mistaken.
Yes, but it also sounded like the matter was looked into by Apple's human resource department and they didn't do anything. However, we don't know anything about this. HR actions can take time to investigate and act on, if necessary. If the entire staff is walking about, there's probably something to the complaints. But this could also just be one employee leaking this news and perhaps he/she is the only one unhappy with the situation. Planning a walkout for two weeks from now seems a bit odd. Why wait?