Giant companies are expected to provide the best working environment to its employees. Apple, a California-based tech giant, is now under scrutiny after leaked emails expose its "toxic" and "sexist" work environment.
The employees are said to have leaked emails over the company's unpleasant work environment. About a dozen unidentified female Apple employees claim to have been exposed to various forms of sexist remarks ranging from rape jokes to gender stereotyping from male co-workers.
Despite Apple's efforts to improve employee diversity, more men are still working for the company. In fact, only 32 percent of the total workforce are women. One particular woman complained about the company's male worker's insensitive jokes about rape or violent sexual assault. It came from a joke by a male worker saying that an office intruder will come into the office and "rape everybody."
This isn't the only time this happened. Though the female employee reported the incident to her manager, nothing happened. She even escalated her complaint in a formal letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has not responded to her.
"Rape jokes in work chat is basically where I completely draw the limit," the woman wrote to Tim Cook, as reported by Mic.
"I do not feel safe at a company that tolerates individuals who make rape jokes," she added.
In a recent email thread, other employees have shared their experiences and stories about workplace harassment and discrimination in Apple. Another woman said she was never given the chance to apply for two jobs since these were never posted. Eventually, the jobs were given to male workers by her male boss.
Apple, meanwhile, released a statement.
"Apple is committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect," Apple said in a statement to USA Today.
"When we receive complaints or hear that employees are concerned about their work environment, we take it very seriously and we investigate claims thoroughly. If we find behavior to be at odds with our values, we take action," it added.
