Mental note: When you acquire software from the internet that you shouldn’t have in the first place and is from the company that sends out your paycheck, keep your mouth shut.
At least five employees of Apple’s retail stores have been fired after downloading copies of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard from the Internet that were distributed to developers at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference two weeks ago. “Dozens” more also face termination, Think Secret has learned.
The axed employees had apparently been overheard discussing their acquisition of Leopard with their co-workers, prompting Apple “corporate” to investigate after word reached Cupertino. The staffers were dismissed after admitting to acquiring the software illegally.
“All of us know that we violated our NDA and ethics policy. Therefore, because we had the character to tell the truth and to face the consequences of our actions, we were terminated,” said one of the fired employees, who spoke with Think Secret on condition of anonymity. “My only question is, if we all lied and denied it would we still be working at Apple today? Even more so, is that the kind of person that Apple wants working for them?” [thinksecret]
It is outstanding that they confessed to their actions. These people love Apple enough to work the retail aspect of the company, so it stands to reason that some of them would be overly anxious to get their hands on the new operating system that was unveiled a few weeks ago.
At the same time, why didn’t they keep this to themselves?! That’s like some one at Starbucks telling co-workers that they’re stealing coffee. If you know that you are in violation of the rules at your job, then why tell anyone about it?
It’s simple. Apple wants intelligent people working for them.