50 Reasons to be Fairly Sacked

50 reasons to be fairly sacked is a comprehensive list to how to act in the workplace, and pit falls to avoid, I hope you find it helpful

1. Serious misconduct

Serious misconduct is defined by Regulation 1.07 of the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Cth) as willful or deliberate behaviour by an employee that is inconsistent with the contract of employment, or as conduct that causes serious and imminent risk to the health or safety of a person or the reputation, viability or profitability of the employer’s business. Serious misconduct is a valid reason for dismissal.

2. Poor performance

Employees may be dismissed for poor performance, as they are unable to perform the inherent requirements of their role.

3. Health and safety breach

For example, not complying with safety procedures or wearing personal protective equipment. The latter was deemed a valid reason for dismissal in Aperio Group (Australia) Pty Ltd (T/a Aperio Finewrap) v Sulemanovski [2011] FWAFB 1436.

4. Constantly late to work

Consistent lateness may be a valid reason for dismissal on the basis of misconduct, as this willful behaviour may be inconsistent with the continuation of the contract of employment.

5. Fighting or aggressive behaviour 

If an employee was fighting another employee or exhibited aggressive behaviour, this is likely a valid reason for dismissal. However, the Fair Work Commission considers all circumstances surrounding the incident, and may find the dismissal harsh, unjust or unreasonable in certain situations.

6. Poor behaviour

Poor behaviour or a negative attitude impacting colleagues, customers and supervisors was a valid reason for dismissal based on conduct in Kolodka v Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd t/a Virgin Australia [2012] FWA 7828.

7. Excessive swearing

If an employee repeatedly uses inappropriate language or swears in the workplace, this may be a valid reason for dismissal in some circumstances. However, if the workplace culture is rife with swearing (and is tolerated by the employer), it may not be a valid reason for an employee to be dismissed on that basis. Moreover, it may also depend on the language that was used and to whom it was directed.

8. Frequently returning late from lunch or other breaks

Repeatedly returning late from lunch or other breaks, without valid reason, may be a valid reason for dismissal.

9. Failing to meet the inherent requirements of the role

If employees fail to meet the inherent requirements of their role, they may be dismissed on the basis of their capacity.

10. Theft of company property

Theft is a form of serious misconduct, which is a valid reason for dismissal.

11. Fraud

Fraud is a form of serious misconduct, which is a valid reason for dismissal.

12. Time theft

Time theft is when employees receive pay for hours that they did not actually work (or for tasks they did not complete). It may occur where an employee clocks on that they started work earlier or finished later than they actually did. Time theft is likely a form of serious misconduct, and therefore may be a valid reason for dismissal.

13. Bullying

If an employee has bullied another employee, the company may find that they behaviour does not comply with the company code of conduct, and workplace bullying may be sufficient to warrant dismissal.

14. Discrimination towards another employee

Employees may not discriminate against another employee. This means that employees must not subject colleagues to different or less favourable treatment on the basis of a particular personal attribute, such as age, gender, religion, ethnicity, disability or pregnancy. For example, in Anderson v Thiess Pty Ltd [2015] FWCFB 478, an employee was found to have been validly dismissed for having sent an email that vilified persons of the Muslim faith, which caused offence.

15. Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment involves any unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favours, or any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, where a reasonable person in the circumstances would anticipate that other person would be offended, humiliated, or intimidated. If an employee sexually harasses another employee, this constitutes serious misconduct and is valid reason for dismissal.

16. Sexual assault

Sexual assault consists of non-consensual sexual contact, and the contact can be on any part of the body through clothes. If an employee sexually assaults another employee or a customer, this would constitute serious misconduct and would be a valid reason for dismissal.

17. Physical assaultyou cannot put your hands on another employee

For example, in Dewson v Boom Logistics Ltd [2012] FWA 9027, an employee was validly dismissed for serious misconduct for physically assaulting a colleague.

18. Drinking alcohol at work

If company policy prohibits the consumption of alcohol during work hours, including on a lunch break, if an employee does so, it is likely there is a valid reason for their dismissal. See Selak v Woolworths Limited [2008] AIRCFB 81; Agnew v Nationwide News, PR927597.

19. Repeatedly failing to following reasonable management directions

Employees can be dismissed for failing to follow a reasonable and lawful direction of management.

20. Unauthorised absence from work

Repeated unauthorised absences from work was deemed to be a valid reason for dismissal in Aperio Group (Australia) Pty Ltd (T/a Aperio Finewrap) v Sulemanovski [2011] FWAFB 1436.

21. Excessive time off work

If an employee has taken excessive leave, either consecutively or routinely, the employer may validly dismiss them if they believe the employee is no longer able to perform the inherent requirements of their role.

22. More than three months’ sick leave

If an employee is on sick leave for under three months, they are protected from dismissal. However, if an employee has been on sick leave for over three months, partially or fully unpaid, they are no longer protected from being dismissed, even if they provide evidence that they require continued leave. Three months is calculated as either three consecutive months or a total of more than three months over a twelve month period.

23. Attending work under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Attending work under the influence of alcohol or drugs would likely constitute serious misconduct, as it is a risk to the workplace, and would therefore likely be a valid reason for dismissal.

24. Recklessly operating machinery

In IGA Distribution (Vic) Pty Ltd v Nguyen [2011] FWAFB 4070, an employee who was dismissed for recklessly causing a forklift accident (where one forklift collided with another) was found to have been dismissed for a valid reason.

25. Distributing pornography

For example, in Flanagan v Thales Australia Ltd t/a Thales Australia [2012] FWA 6291, employees who accessed pornographic material on work email accounts were found to have been dismissed for a valid reason.

26. Inappropriate use of social media

Making disparaging or threatening comments about the company or colleagues on social media, regardless of whether the account is private, may constitute a valid reason for dismissal. In O’Keefe v Williams Muir’s Pty Ltd T/A Troy Williams The Good Guys [2011] FWA 5311, an employee was validly dismissed for serious misconduct in making threatening colleagues towards a colleague on Facebook.

27. Threatening colleagues

Threatening colleagues would constitute serious misconduct (and thus be a valid reason for dismissal), because such conduct causes a serious and imminent risk to the health or safety of a person.

28. Threatening company reputation

Conduct that causes serious and imminent risk to the reputation, viability or profitability of the employer’s business is deemed serious misconduct, and therefore is a valid reason for dismissal.

29. Sabotaging client relationships

Sabotaging client relationships would likely cause serious and imminent risk to the reputation, viability or profitability of the employer’s business, and would therefore be deemed serious misconduct.

30. Deliberate damage to company property

Deliberately damaging company property would be serious misconduct because it is wilful or deliberate behaviour that would be inconsistent with the continuation of the contract of employment, but may also affect the viability or profitability of the employer’s business.

31. Repeatedly not complying with the company dress code

If an employee has been instructed to comply with the dress code but refuses to, this may be a valid reason for dismissal on the basis that they refused to comply with a lawful direction of their employer. For example, in Woolworths Limited (t/as Safeway) v Brown, PR963023, a butcher was found to have been validly dismissed for refusing to remove his eyebrow ring at work.

32. Blackmail or extortion

Blackmail and extortion are indictable criminal offences, and therefore would constitute serious misconduct warranting dismissal.

33. Breach of privacy

In some industries, breaching privacy may constitute serious misconduct warranting dismissal.

34. Breach of a confidentiality agreement or employment contract

Breaching a legal document like a confidentiality agreement or employment contract may mean the employee cannot be trusted or amount to serious misconduct.

35. Giving company information to a competitor

Giving company information to a competitor would likely not only damage the employer’s business, but also lead to a loss of trust in the employee. Therefore, this would be a valid reason for dismissal.

36. Falsifying or manipulating business records

For example, if an employee falsified accounting or disciplinary records, or email correspondence, this dishonest conduct would likely be a valid reason for dismissal on the basis of serious misconduct.

37. Falsifying personal information or credentials

If an employee falsified personal information about themselves, such as their credentials, qualifications or work experience, this dishonest conduct could lead to a loss of trust in the employee and therefore a valid reason for dismissal.

38. Failing to disclose recent criminal record

If an employer asked about an employee’s criminal record during the recruitment process, but that employee was dishonest, this could constitute serious misconduct. Moreover, some criminal convictions or offences may be relevant to the employee’s ability to perform the inherent requirements of their position, such as if they are working with children.

39. Coercion

Coercion involves taking or threatening action that would be unlawful or unconscionable, intending to deprive someone of their choice to do or not do something. As coercion is against the law, this would constitute serious misconduct and would therefore be a valid reason for dismissal.

40. Deliberately billing clients incorrectly

Deliberately billing clients incorrectly could lead to reputational or financial damage for the employer to rectify the employee’s behaviour, and because the conduct is dishonest it would likely constitute serious misconduct, warranting dismissal.

41. Repeated deceptive or dishonest conduct

Employee dishonesty may constitute misconduct, and may therefore be a valid reason for dismissal – APS Group (Placements) Pty Ltd v O’Loughlin [2011] FWAFB 5230.

42. Constantly refusing to perform overtime hours, when it is expected of the role

Some jobs may expect that its employees complete work on overtime hours, and a constant refusal to do so may mean the employee is failing to meet the inherent requirements of their role.

43. Mismanagement of staff

If a manager is inept at managing its staff, causing damage to the business, this may be a valid reason for dismissal, provided that the issue is serious enough and causes serious and imminent risk to the health and safety of a person or the reputation, viability or profitability of the employer’s business.

44. Loss of trust in employment relationship

If an employee has been dishonest or there has otherwise been a loss of trust in the employment relationship, the employer may have reason to dismiss the employee if unrecoverable.

45. Inappropriate out-of-hours conduct relating to employment

For example, inappropriate conduct at a work function or messaging colleagues inappropriate content out-of-hours would likely constitute serious misconduct.

46. Negligence

If an employee has been negligent in carrying out their employment duties, this may be a valid reason for dismissal.

47. Causing significant financial loss to the company

 Causing significant financial loss to the company would be serious misconduct because it is conduct that would cause serious and imminent risk to the reputation, viability or profitability of the employer’s business.

48. Dishonesty in a disciplinary interview

For example, in Streeter v Telstra Corporation Limited [2008] AIRCFB 15, an employee engaged in sexual intercourse in a hotel room in front of other employees. The other employees complained to the company and an investigation was commenced. The employee was dismissed for having been dishonest in the disciplinary interview and investigation, meaning that the employer felt that they could no longer trust the employee to be honest in the future. This was found to be a valid reason for dismissal.

49. Gambling

 It may be against the company policy for its employees to gamble, such as if the employees work at a casino or other betting agency. Such a breach of policy would therefore be a valid reason for dismissal. For example, in Atfield v Jupiters Limited trading as Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast, PR925334, a manager of a casino was validly dismissed for serious misconduct for placing a TAB bet within the casino complex while working.

50. Improper use of work information

An employee cannot improperly use information or resources through their employment. For example, in Applicant v Australian Federal Police [2012] FWA 1352, an employee was found to have been validly dismissed for requesting a colleague investigate her ex-husband’s finances, which was in breach of the company code of conduct.

50 reasons to be fairly sacked, is not a complete exhaustive list, be aware of this.

By Gary Pinchen.