Lumen Law Center Opens Investigation into Apple’s Separation Offers to Employees on Protected Leave

September 18, 2026

Focus: Apple Inc.             Scope: AppleCare and Apple Support Employees                Status: Actively accepting inquiries

Lumen Law Center, P.C., an employment and civil rights law firm representing employees in the technology sector and in high-impact discrimination and retaliation matters, has opened an investigation into reports that Apple Inc. targeted Apple Support / AppleCare team members on protected leave for separation from the company during summer and fall 2026.

According to information received by the firm, beginning in approximately mid-July 2026, Apple managers were directed to contact employees in Apple Support / AppleCare roles who were out on leave, including medical leave, pregnancy and parental leave, military leave, and leave connected to domestic violence, to offer them separation packages. The reports indicate that employees who declined the offer were told they could request a “decision review” with People Support, and that the effort reached employees across the United States, not a single office or region.

If accurate, these reports raise serious questions under federal and state laws that protect employees who take leave, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, and state laws that protect leave for domestic violence survivors. Employers generally may not use protected leave-taking as a negative factor in an employment decision, condition continued employment on giving up leave rights, or use a “voluntary” separation offer to accomplish what a direct termination could not.

We want to hear from you if you:

• Were an Apple Support / AppleCare employee in the United States on any type of leave in June 2026 through present and were contacted about a separation package, and either:

  • Declined a separation offer and were referred to a “decision review” or similar process;

  • Accepted a separation offer within the last week and are age 40+;

  • Have not yet decided whether to accept a separation offer; or

  • Returned from leave to find your role changed, eliminated, or your accommodation withdrawn.

We also want to hear from anyone with knowledge of how these decisions were made or communicated.

Please keep any documents you received, including offer letters, separation agreements, emails, text messages, call notes, and the names of anyone who contacted you. Do not sign or return anything you have not had a chance to review, and note any deadlines you were given.

Contact with the firm is free and confidential. Reaching out does not create an attorney-client relationship or obligate you to bring a claim. We will not disclose your identity to Apple or anyone else without your permission.

Contact: info@lumenlawcenter.com, 310-269-6739

Lumen Law Center, P.C. | West Hollywood, California

This is an attorney advertisement. The firm has not been retained by Apple or any Apple employee in connection with these reports as of the date of publication.