Microsoft retail poached employees with higher pay, promotions

Apple retail store employee wages are being increased by up to 25 percent, effective in July. The employees were told of the raises in face-to-face meetings with managers over the last two weeks, following an internal review ordered by John Browett, Apple's new retail chief. The raises were well-received, as raises generally are, but were viewed as long overdue.

The pay increases are now viewed as commensurate with the Apple Retail Store's positioning as a high-end retail establishment. The raises are in conjunction with the accelerated performance review period, also spearheaded by Browett.

Wage levels were the dominant staff complaint during the internal review. The Genius tech support personnel and educational teams were the most frustrated groups overall in regards to wages. One store noted that a nearby Microsoft Store had actively poached employees with higher wages, promotions, and signing bonuses.

MacNN spoke to employees at one Apple retail store which has a Microsoft Store nearby. They saw examples of poaching by the Microsoft store, saying the store lost 11 staffers to the new store less than 100 feet away. Most of the departing employees were iOS-focused sales specialists and general retail staffers. One ex-Apple staffer tapped for Microsoft store management was allegedly given a signing bonus to leave the Apple store without the customary two-week notice prior to departure.

By Electronista Staff

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retail, industry, Apple, John Browett, Apple Retail