Bloomberg reports that Tim Cook held an all-hands meeting with Apple employees today to address fears about immigration and deportation. Here are the details.
Cook pledges to ‘continue to address’ the issue with lawmakers
According to the report, Cook acknowledged that some Apple employees “don’t feel comfortable” leaving their homes, and stated that “no one should feel this way”.
Cook also reportedly told employees that he will continue to address this issue with lawmakers, as Apple’s current workforce includes “team members across the US on some form of Visa.”
Bloomberg’s report says that Cook also credited Apple’s long-term success to its ability to attract talent from around the world, as he pledged to “continue pressing the (immigration) issue with US lawmakers:
“For as long as I can remember, we have been a smarter, wiser, more innovative company because we’ve attracted the best and brightest from all corners of the world. (…) I am going to continue to lobby lawmakers on this issue. You have my word on that.”
Cook also reportedly responded to an Apple employee who said they were concerned about “about being deported and separated from their daughter”. Here’s Bloomberg:
Cook said, “I love you if you’re on DACA,” referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that allows people who came to the US as a child to remain in the country on a work permit. He said that Apple has hundreds of DACA workers. “I will personally advocate for you,” he said. “I am a huge believer in the program.”
Today’s all-hands comes just days after Tim Cook was widely criticized for his evasive memo following his attendance of the “Melania” premiere at the White House hours after the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Top comment by kitsunesoba
This is better than nothing, but definitely reads as damage control. What's unclear is if it was spurred more by internal turmoil or by the wider rapidly souring sentiment on the issue.
In the memo, Cook said he was “heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis,” but stopped short of stating anything that might sound critical to the administration.
While today’s remarks signal a firmer commitment, they can also be read as damage control, as Bloomberg reports that even within Apple, Cook had been “privately criticized […] for his limited and late response to the shootings”.
Whether Cook’s words today will lead to any meaningful action remains to be seen.
Accessory deals on Amazon
- AirPods Pro 3
- Beats USB-C to USB-C Woven Short Cable
- Wireless CarPlay adapter
- Logitech MX Master 4
- Apple AirTag 4 Pack
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments