The Employee’s Guide To Avoiding Unfair Dismissal

With the recent global rise in inflation and living costs, job security is more important than ever. The last thing anyone wants is to lose their job amidst an ongoing financial crisis, especially not over one wrong decision or mistake that leads to termination. Being dismissed from your job isn’t simply based on your competence to do the job. Often, an employee may be sacked due to work ethic, interpersonal skills, attitude, and dishonesty. So, what can you do to ensure that you avoid the sack in these trying times?

Today, we share 7 tips guaranteed to help employees avoid unfair dismissal. Read on to find out more.

  1. Punctuality Goes A Long Way

Workplace punctuality is one of the most effective ways of avoiding unfair dismissal as an employee. Let’s be honest, if you were an employer, you probably wouldn’t want to keep someone constantly late to the job on your team. Constantly being late or failing to meet deadlines may constitute misconduct or grounds for dismissal. Understandably, life can sometimes throw you a curveball, and showing up late on a single isolated day does not mean your boss will sack you. However, in such instances, it is vital to contact your employer and explain your reason for being late (or unable to meet a deadline) as a professional courtesy.

  1. Be Respectful At All Times

In Australia, the Fair Work Commission has confirmed that aggressive conduct in the workplace will provide an employer with a valid reason or reasonable grounds. The truth is that workplaces can be frustrating and stressful for employees. Sometimes you are in a bad mood or feel entirely overwhelmed by the job, but this is never a reason to be disrespectful, rude or aggressive to your colleagues and/or employer. The safest option to prevent unfair dismissal is to remain as calm as possible and remove yourself from triggering situations before they further escalate. Suppose you are having problems with a colleague. In that case, it is always advised that you communicate clearly with your employer to find the appropriate solution for any trouble or frustration you may face in the workplace.

  1. Avoid Workplace Gossip & Drama

Gossip and drama can be shared in the workplace, whether in the form of office banter, outright slandering, or rumors about colleagues. At its worst, workplace gossip can constitute bullying or sexual harassment. As an employee, it is vital to distance yourself from gossip as you may breach specific values or standards of conduct that your employer has set. This behavior may even constitute misconduct depending on the nature of the situation, so it is always wise to steer clear of any drama.

  1. Always Be A Team Player

We all know that being a good team player enables you to work in cohesion with colleagues toward the same goal. However, this is real life, and the truth is that you will come across many people that you don’t particularly like or see eye-to-eye with throughout your career. Even so, you must always remain professional and do your best to be a team player. At the end of the day, you are hired to perform a role so your personal preferences should not get in the way of getting the job done.

Find out more about the 6 qualities of a great team player here.

  1. Be Wary Of Your Social Media Presence

In the age of digital, many companies now have social media policies that require employees to refrain from posting content that could adversely affect the image, reputation, viability or profitability of the brand. As an employee, you should always think twice about the type of content you are posting or sharing on social media. Whether expressing strong political or personal views that your employer does not agree with, what you say and do on social media can undoubtedly affect your employment and provide your employer with lawful grounds for dismissal.

  1. Prioritize Honesty & Transparency

Workplace transparency is paramount in breeding long-term success. As an employee, you are always encouraged to share your honest thoughts and opinions with your employer respectfully and transparently. This includes any problems or challenges you may be facing at work or opinions on how you think the workplace could be improved for the benefit of all. You must avoid lying to your employer at all costs, which may lead to devastating consequences such as disciplinary actions or unfair dismissal. Done well, transparency creates trust and genuine relationships between employers and employees, building trust in the company and confidence in leadership.

  1. Never Mix Work With Personal Life

Lastly, it is vital to ensure that you always keep your personal and professional life separate. No matter how attractive you find a colleague, avoiding flirting or conversing of a romantic/sexual nature is essential. If you do choose to shoot your shot and get rejected, it is paramount that you cease all flirtation immediately. Continuing to behave in such a manner after a colleague has clearly shown disinterest may constitute workplace harassment and sexual harassment which can lead to lawful grounds for dismissal. At the end of the day, it is better to be safe than sorry by keeping your personal and work lives separate.

And there you have it – 7 tips guaranteed to help an employee avoid unfair dismissal. We hope that today’s article has equipped you with some helpful information on how you can avoid the stress and embarrassment of being terminated.

Do you have any personal thoughts or tips for avoiding unfair dismissal as an employee? Be sure to share them in the comments section below!