Tim Cook has said leakers at Apple “do not belong here” in a memo…that was leaked to The Verge. It followed details from a global staff meeting, such as testing demands for unvaccinated employees, being made public via the same publication.
Tim Cook: Employees Who Leak ‘do Not Belong’ at Apple
In the memo, Mr. Cook said that staff had made it known that they were “incredibly frustrated” that details of the meeting, as well product details, had leaked. He told employees that ” I share your frustration” and Apple “is doing everything in our power to identify those who leaked.” Most damningly he said:
As you know, we do not tolerate disclosures of confidential information, whether it’s product IP or the details of a confidential meeting. We know that the leakers constitute a small number of people. We also know that people who leak confidential information do not belong here.
Apple needs to fire huge numbers of bozos. There are few doers at apple, and tons of bozos that hate themselves and the people who can do, because they cannot.
Fire them all.
Charlotte:
Happy Autumnal Equinox!
First, I’m not sure that TC’s statement is necessarily damning. In the corporate and professional world writ large, there is such a thing as legally binding confidentiality, the violation of which can have substantial consequence to both the individual and the institution. In my profession alone, a breech of confidentiality could jeopardise another’s well-being and cost me my licence. There is a role for confidentiality.
The question is, what gets classified as confidential, and why? When it comes to employer/employee relations, and disagreements and discontent over policies, what or whom is being protected or even served by classifying this as confidential? The terms of negotiation, pending agreement, can be; but no one is served by concealing that there is disagreement. That is not confidentiality; that is being secretive.
Understandably, a company or institution might prefer, for public image’ sake, that this not be known, to which we can justifiably respond, ‘All the more reason to get on with finding a fair and sustainable solution’. Often-times it is the public pressure that compels the more powerful party to come to the negotiation table and settle equitably.
If the corporate world, including Apple, wants to maintain employee morale, then it will need to separate appropriate confidentiality around things like IP, product development, and even the terms of ongoing negotiations, including those with employees, from being secretive about operational problems, which is oppressive and will only exacerbate tensions, and ultimately productivity, if there is no outlet, including the appropriate airing of grievances that are being ignored and not properly addressed.
Apple is famous for their secrecy. It’s been part of their culture since the beginning. Is it wrong to enforce that? Or should all internal business be discussed in the media? Every employee is aware of the expectations at Apple before their first day of employment. I don’t see anything particularly damning in his memo.