Technologies

Some Apple shareholders want a civil rights audit

The tech giant has faced accusations of allowing a hostile work environment to grow under its majority white and male leadership.

Apple shareholders will likely vote next year year on a proposal tied to online criticism the company has faced from some of its employees, calling for a civil rights audit after victims detailed stories of harassment and abuse at the company. It also comes after the US National Labor Relations Board began investigations into complaints filed by two former employees.

The proposal, earlier reported by MarketWatch, seeks to draw attention to Apple’s employee base, which is 47% white and 66% male, according to the company’s public data. The shareholders told MarketWatch that despite Apple’s public commitments to support racial justice, its progress diversifying its own ranks has been slow.

«It is unclear how Apple plans to address racial inequality in its workforce,» the proposal, shared with MarketWatch, says. «Apple currently has no Hispanics and only one Black member on its executive team.»

SOC Investment Group, which reported owning 22 million shares of Apple stock earlier this year, worked on the proposal with Trillium Asset Management, which earlier reported owning more than 1 million shares of Apple. The Service Employees International Union was also reportedly involved. The proposal is expected to be voted on during Apple’s 2022 shareholder meeting; last year’s meeting occurred in February.

Apple declined to comment. Representatives from SOC, Trillium and the SEIU didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

The move is the latest in a series of public efforts to draw attention to Apple’s corporate culture at a time of intense scrutiny. Employees have publicly accused the tech giant of allowing a hostile work environment to develop in parts of the company. Apple’s ultra-secretive work culture, they say, is unintentionally adding to this problem by discouraging people from speaking up about these issues.

Apple isn’t the only company facing these types of questions. Current and former employees at Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and Pinterest have also raised concerns, speaking out on a range of issues, including workplace harassment.

What’s notable about Apple is how unusual it is for its workers to publicly criticize the company. Earlier this year, a group of employees published an open letter to CEO Tim Cook and the company’s senior leadership, asking the tech giant to improve how it treats its 160,000 employees and «fulfill its promise of inclusion, diversity and equity.»

In the letter, the group asked for increased privacy over personal information; transparent and fair compensation; an audit of all relationships with other companies; increased accountability across leadership and human resource teams; and a process for sharing group concerns. The letter also asks for a reinvestigation of all reports of «racism, discrimination, abuse, harassment, concerted activity suppression and retaliation» at Apple.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for July 18, #1490

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for July 18, No. 1,490.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

I thought yesterday’s Wordle puzzle was difficult — until I met today’s. I’m unsure I’ve ever heard this word before, though now, I’m glad to know it. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

There are two vowels in today’s Wordle answer.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with L.

Wordle hint No. 4: Animal friends

Today’s Wordle answer refers to an animal.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer is the name of a certain big-eyed mammal.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is LORIS. They’re awfully cute.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, July 17, No. 1489 was MODAL.

Recent Wordle answers

July 13, No. 1485: GNOME

July 14, No. 1486: UNDID

July 15, No. 1487: FOIST

July 16, No. 1488: NERVY

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, July 18

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 18.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Kudos to today’s Mini Crossword for being both complex and clever. There are layers upon layers in the clues. It took me a few minutes to sort it all out. Need a helping hand with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.