The iPhone 4 debut was Apple’s most successful retail store product launch ever, and now the company is rewarding the employees who worked on the launch day for their efforts. The company wasn’t able to give store employees a free iPhone 4 back in June because of severely constrained supplies of the smartphone. However, the company did allow employees to reserve an iPhone 4 in the days before the launch, and pay with their own money. Apparently that gesture wasn’t enough to stem some grumbling among store employees. Now, sources say, Apple will hand out $150 bonuses to those who worked at least 12 hours on iPhone launch day, which could presumably be used to help pay for a new iPhone. Like all work bonuses, the money is considered taxable and, depending upon an employee’s tax exemptions, could amount to less than $110 on a paycheck.
E-mail this story
Related posts:
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Actually the ‘no free iphone’ has been that way since the first 3g so this was nothing new.
Umm…we don’t have EPP on iPad or iPhone (any model) which sucks. It would be nice if they at least gave us a good price on the iPhone 4.
Umm…I wouldn’t be complaining if I received a $150 bonus from my employer for simply working a 12 hour day.
I’ll be enjoying my $150! That, plus the hours worked (including over time) will more than pay for my phone!
@Employee #2 – then you must have to pay your own monthly contract and sign up for 2/3 years? How about us poor corporate employees, who are stuck with the 3g and we get our monthly bills paid for?
All you employees really shouldn’t look a gifted horse in the mouth. At least you have a job…..
@ Exmployee – Corporate gets their bill paid for? Lucky. But stuck on 3G? Unlucky. Yes, I have to sign up for a 2 year contract still.
@Ex-Employee – I’m happy to have a job, and I’m happy about this!
The corporate-paid phone is a company line, not personal.
This is completely not true. THere are no Bonuses. ONly a thank you from RJ.
No you’re wrong. Its actually been updated that EVERYONE who worked on iphone launch day gets bonuses, since there were problems with people working over 12 hours past midnight – being the next day. Problem being that bonus pay is heavily taxed, so its more like 75 dollars, but still something.
I hope they do. The guy who helped me at the LA store said that he had been working since 9am. He helped me around 11pm So clearly more than 12 hours. They deserve it :-)
This is true, so I don’t think you must actually work for Apple, Mumbo Jumbo. Additionally, I learned that everyone that worked launch day, regardless of hours worked will get the bonus. Thank you, Apple. Loving my iPhone 4, btw.
All employees? Maybe not in Europe then…
If you are a corp employee or store leader, you generally have to wait a few weeks or so for Apple’s internal managing software to catch up with the new OS before you can upgrade or you can’t really use the phone for business activities. And while it’s true that corp phones are for business, they are also fully utilized as personal phones and should be. After all, most corp and managers are expected to be available 24/7 so while having paid service is a perk, it is also a tiny golden handcuff.
{ 2 trackbacks }