Glossary

Serious Misconduct

An act in the workplace that undermines the trust and confidence that the employer has in an employee. When this type of behaviour occurs an employer is often entitled to dismiss the employee without notice, following a disciplinary process.

Common examples of serious misconduct are theft, fraud, intoxication at work and assault, to name a few.

It is important that employers clearly explain to employees what kind of behaviour is and is not deemed serious misconduct in the workplace. This lowers the risk of miscommunication and unjustified dismissal claims being brought against the employer.