Ethics at Apple Has Been for Some

Ethics at Apple

Apple has been for some time now the leading manufacturer of innovative wireless technologies, including the iPhone, the iPad, iPods, and Macintosh computers that do more and set the table for other manufacturers to emulate "Mac" innovations. Following the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs -- and the emergence of Tim Cook as the new CEO -- the technology media and happy Apple consumers wait for the next launch of an innovative device that will change the way people communicate and retrieve information.

What are the Apple values and ethics? The "Apple Values" section of the Apple Employee Handbook (circa 1993) sets the record straight on what is expected of employees. In short, Apple asserts that "…we will not compromise our ethics or integrity in the name of profit" (seanet.com). What Apple does is "…set aggressive goals and drive ourselves hard to achieve them" and "build products" that "extend human capability, freeing people from drudgery and helping them achieve more than they could along" (seanet.com). Moreover, Apple explains that employees should be able to "trust the motives and integrity of their supervisors" and the company emphasizes that dealing "fairly with competitors" is very important (seanet.com).

On the subject of fair dealing with competitors -- and morality in the business community -- the United States Department of Justice recently filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple (among other companies, including book publishers Simon & Schuster and Macmillan) for alleged collusion in the fixing of eBook prices (Van Voris, 2012). Apple allegedly "…changed the way publishers charge for books on the iPad," raising the prices -- in collusion with book publishers -- to illegally maximize profits (Van Voris, p. 1). Van Voris explains that the sales of eBooks generated $969.9 million in 2011, and publishers -- along with Apple -- enjoy huge profits because without printing and shipping costs, more money is made per book purchase.

Ethics at Apple

Part Two

The privacy policies at Apple are not all published for public review, but good information about those policies are available in the literature. Apple does require drug tests of its employees (not necessarily Apple Store employees), according to the website Test Clear. The Apple drug test -- urine in a bottle -- is reportedly searching for Amphs, Meta Amphs, Opiates, THC (Marijuana) and cocaine," and Test Clear reports that apple tests employees biannually (Test Clear, 2011).

It shouldn't be a secret to prospective employees that Apple requires drug tests, given that it is a highly secretive company, and that it's policy is clearly spelled out on its website:

"Apple is a drug-free workplace. Employees are prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing, using, or being under the influence of illegal drugs, inhalants, or controlled substances in the workplace" (Apple / Jobs at Apple). Any violation of that policy will of course lead to discipline at the least and loss of job at the worst. Apple stretches credulity a bit when it says "…in the workplace" because clearly if an employee at Cupertino is smoking marijuana at home -- which should not be Apple's business -- but then that person is drug tested at work, the THC will show up and hence, using drugs at home also has consequences. This is not at all unique to Apple, as many if not most corporations require drug-free work environments.

Meanwhile, it is no secret that Apple employees are admonished through numerous company guidelines to remain quiet in any form as to what Apple is up to. In fact, Gary Marshall writing in the Tech Radar Computer website says Apple is "more secretive than the CIA and more paranoid than the Pentagon," which may be an exaggeration but according to the available literature, it's not far off. Being secretive about their products is a reasonable goal for a company like Apple, but it is clear that employees' privacy and their right to communication on social media sites is closely watched by Apple researchers.

For example, an employee has a right to a private website but no mention of Apple will be tolerated. Even mentioning on a Facebook page or Twitter that the person works at Apple can get that person fired, according to Marshall (2011). An Apple employee was fired in December, 2011, according to Mark Gurman writing in 9to5mac.com, for a "Facebook rant" that Apple employees -- hired to search for those who may break Apple's guidelines -- discovered. "Remember there may be consequences to what you post or publish online including discipline if you engage in conduct Apple deems inappropriate or violates Apple policies" (quoted from the Apple employee handbook) (Gurman, 2012). As to the privacy that a Facebook user who also happens to be an Apple employee presumes to have, if the word Apple appears in any posts on a worker's pages, any thought of privacy goes out the window.