Tim Cook reminds Apple employees to review Apple's Business Conduct Policy

In an email that was sent to all employees at Apple from SVP and General Counsel Bruce Sewell accompanied by a video with Tim Cook, the company asks all employees to review Apple’s Business Conduct Policy, this according to 9to5Mac, 

According to those working at Apple, the policy reportedly details how employees should behave both in and outside of the company while representing Apple, the policy focuses on issues such as workplace relationships and perhaps more importantly how to respond to press inquiries.

While the actual video was quickly removed from Youtube, news sites have been able to transcribe the text:

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.

As mentioned earlier the video was accompanied by an email sent by SVP and General Counsel Bruce Sewell, in this email employees are reminded that Apple’s policies are based on “honesty, respect, confidentiality, and the critical obligation of every Apple employee to adhere to legal principles like antitrust and anti-corruption laws.”

We have posted the full email below:

Apple Team,

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.

The Policy is based on Apple’s 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.  Living by it is how we earn the trust of our customers and partners and how we keep Apple a great place to work.

The Business Conduct group has developed a new version of the Policy in iBooks format.  The book is convenient and engaging with galleries, video, audio and multi-touch widgets all designed to help you learn about Apple’s principles of business conduct.  You can download the new book via Switchboard, or access a web-version here.

If you have questions, or information about conduct you think may violate the Policy, don’t be afraid to speak up. Talk to your manager, your HR representative, or contact the Business Conduct Helpline — which can be done anonymously.

Thank you in advance for treating this seriously and taking responsibility for demonstrating high integrity in every aspect of Apple’s business.

Bruce Sewell

SVP and General Counsel

Even though we can only speculate as to what prompted the email from Apple Executives, it is a pretty fair bet to assume Apple is unhappy with the numerous product and information leaks. In the past Apple used to be a secretive company known for their surprising keynotes, however recently it seems most products have been leaked to the press before being officially unveiled.