Apple plans to give its retail employees bonuses of up to $1,000, a report says

• Apple is offering its retail employees bonuses of up to $1,000, Bloomberg reported.
• Retail staff hired before March 31 are set to get $1,000, with $500 for those hired after, per the report.
• Apple will pay $200 bonuses to new hires joining before the holiday season, sources said.

Apple is set to pay big bonuses to its retail staff, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.

Apple planned to hand out cash bonuses of $1,000 to retail staff hired before March 31, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

The people told the outlet that staff hired after that date stood to receive $500, and that Apple planned to offer $200 bonuses to people joining its retail workforce in time for the holiday season.

In-store retail, AppleCare, and online sales staff are set to get the bonuses, Bloomberg reported.

Apple plans to pay the bonuses in October for existing staff, per the report.

Apple presented the bonuses to staff as a recognition of their hard work during the pandemic, Bloomberg reported.

Apple shut all its stores outside of China in March 2020. All 270 of its US stores had re-opened by the end of March 2021.

Apple did not immediately respond when contacted by Insider for comment on Bloomberg's report.

News of the planned bonuses comes as retail businesses face labor shortages in the US, with some major chains including McDonald's and Walgreens raising wages to attract workers.

It also comes as Apple faces increased unrest from its employees, some of whom have started to speak publicly about issues including harassment and discrimination at the company.

In a leaked memo on Tuesday, CEO Tim Cook tried to discourage employees from leaking information to the press, saying, "people who leak confidential information do not belong here."

The memo, obtained by The Verge, was distributed after audio from a company-wide meeting, in which Cook only answered two questions from activist employees, was leaked to the press.