Employee Behaviour At Workplace

Employee behaviour at workplace concerns divide into two categories that require different processes, and confusing them is the most common procedural failure in Australian workplaces.

Conduct. The person chose to do something they should not have, or chose not to do something required. Dishonesty, breaching a policy, aggression, refusing a reasonable instruction. Handled through a disciplinary process.

Capability. The person is trying and cannot meet the standard. Skill, training, workload or health. Handled through performance management, with support and a genuine opportunity to improve.

Running a capability issue as misconduct is unfair and difficult to defend. Running a conduct issue as a performance plan drags out something that needed a clear response, and the rest of the team notices.

Ask one question first. Could they do it if they wanted to?

The Fair Work Ombudsman covers both processes. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s code of conduct training and policy management software.