A Labor Department spokeswoman said Monday that the department has opened a whistle-blower investigation into Apple.
The department wouldn't say who requested the investigation or what it was about, but the complaint was filed by a former employee who has been outspoken about her time at Apple.
According to a letter from the Labor Department to Ms. Gjovik, Apple retaliated against her for reporting workplace health concerns by suspending her and then firing her. The Financial Times reported that the department was investigating.
The letter was sent last week and said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Whistleblower Protection Program will conduct an investigation.
Apple said it is committed to creating and maintaining a positive, inclusive workplace and that it does not comment on specific employees.
Several other former employees have accused Apple of retaliating against them, and Ms. Gjovik is one of them. In recent months, there has been unrest within Apple, a company known for its secretive corporate culture.
