Apple executives today sent a company wide email to employees asking them to review Apple's Business Conduct Policy, reports 9to5Mac. The policy reportedly details how employees should behave both in and outside of the company while representing Apple, covering topics like personal investments, workplace relationships, and policies on public speaking, press inquiries, and endorsements.
The email included an iBooks version of the Business Conduct Policy and a video from Tim Cook (video text below), which gives an inside look at company values.
As Dr. Martin Luther King once said, the time is always right to do what's right. At Apple, we do the right thing. Even when it's not easy. If you see something that doesn't meet our standards, speak up. Whether it's a quality issue or a business practice, if it affects Apple's integrity, we need to know about it.
In the email, sent by SVP and General Counsel Bruce Sewell, Apple reminds employees that its policies are based on core values of "honesty, respect, confidentiality, and the critical obligation of every Apple employee to adhere to legal principles like antitrust and anti-corruption laws."
I am writing to ask you to do something very important — set aside a little time to review Apple's Business Conduct Policy. It explains in very clear terms how you are expected to conduct yourself with our customers, business partners, government agencies, and fellow employees. We expect every Apple employee to understand and comply with these rules.
While it is unclear whether there was a particular incident that spurred the email and video to employees, Apple has had ongoing trouble with product and information leaks. Apple has always been a secretive company, and last year, Tim Cook even promised to "double down" on secrecy when it came to products.
Despite Cook's efforts, multiple Apple products in recent months have leaked early, with prototype shells and parts for the iPad Air, the iPhone 5s, and the iPhone 5c appearing well ahead of their fall launches.
Update: The original video has been removed, but the text from Tim Cook can still be found above.
