APPLE WARNS EMPLOYEES that they can be fired for speculating about future products, using their work email account for personal messages, and posting messages on an Apple-related web site.

The company’s very strict guidelines for employee behaviour were revealed yesterday by 9to5Mac.

From that document, here are some things that can result in discipline “up to and including termination,” according to the internal policies packet:

• Posting ANYTHING on a outside Apple-related web site or forum, whether you identify yourself as an Apple employee or not.

• Publishing any “photographs, articles, or commentary about Apple products, services, or initiatives” on a personal Web site.

• Speculating on any Apple rumor — even to another employee in a place where a customer might overhear.

• Using your Apple e-mail address for personal messages.

• Posting controversial or inflammatory opinions on social networks.

• Discussing colleagues or posting their picture on social networks without getting their permission first.

• Publishing just about anything at all on a public online forum without first making clear that the opinions are yours, not Apple’s.

• Leaking confidential information is a particularly bad offence: “Information leaks can potentially damage Apple’s interests, and Apple has zero tolerance for those who leak information.” Ironically, that includes leaking “the contents of any Apple policy” — like the one that 9to5 Mac just published.

You can read the whole thing here.

- This article by Matt Rosoff first appeared on Business Insider.