Conduct in the workplace
There is an expectation that everyone at your place of work behaves in a professional manner and treats everyone with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.
Recent high-profile cases such as Lehrmann v Higgins and the subsequent defamation cases which followed raises questions around workplace conduct and how it is handled.
The way your team conduct themselves is a key part of running any business and the effects of bad behaviour at work should not be ignored. If you are a practice owner, then you hold legal responsibilities for workplace actions and will need to deal with the possible consequences of poor employee conduct. You have a responsibility to provide your employees with a work environment that is free of inappropriate conduct with every employee being held accountable for their behaviour at work, which is why having a Code of Conduct or Respect at Work Policy in place is vital.
You may wonder why you there is a need for a policy, especially if you are a small practice.
The policy enables a practice to show their committed to providing a safe, inclusive and respectful work environment that is free from behaviours that may adversely affect the harmony of the workplace and/or cause harm to others. This goes a long way to setting the tone for your practice culture and shows your team that although standards of performance are important, appropriate workplace behaviour and conduct that promotes a culture of respect is valued by yourself as a practice owner.
It will help your team make good decisions about how to interact with fellow staff members that is both respectful and productive but also enable the management team to hold staff accountable for their actions.
Failure to implement a policy or to manage employee conduct could lead to:
- decrease in staff morale
- a drop in productivity
- higher employee turnover
- more psychosocial hazards
- toxic workplace culture
- poor health and safety
- workplace claims including sexual harassment claims
- serious misconduct
- legal action taken against you as an employer
If you would like to know what should be included in the policy or guidance on the successful implementation of a code of conduct/respect at work policy within your practice, please give us a call on 07 3872 2264 or email us at workplacerelations@amaq.com.au.