The Section of the Code To Be Imterpreted:
Code 2.2 – Any employee of The Company shall be guilty of misconduct if they disobey an order or directive from their supervisor, unless that order or directive would require that the employee commit some other form of misconduct as described in this code.
Examples of Misconduct Under This Code Section:
- Employee A is Employee B’s supervisor. Employee B is having a pleasant conversation with Employee C, but should be working on an important task. Employee A interrupts the conversation and orders Employee B to return to working immediately. Employee B admonishes Employee A for the impoliteness and promises to get back to work in a just a few minutes after the conversation. Employee B is guilty of misconduct under code section 2.2.
- Employee A is Employee B’s supervisor. Employee B has had some sort of falling out with Employee C, and is explaining their side of the story to Employees D and E , but should be working in an important task. Employee A interrupts the conversation and orders Employee B to return to working immediately. Employee B admonishes Employee A for the interruption and then launches into a new rant about Employee A to Employees D and E. Employee B is guilty of misconduct under code section 2.2.
- Employee A is Employee B’s supervisor. Employee A has ordered all employees to adhere to a set of safety precautions while operating certain machines. Employee B operates one of the machines in a way which is flagrantly in violation of the precautions, but not really dangerous. Later, Employee B claims that it was just a joke and that no harm was done. Employee B is guilty of misconduct under code section 2.2.
- Employee A is Employee B’s supervisor. Employee B is working on something which is included in their employment specification. Employee A decides that, even though some productivity may be lost due to retooling and shifting focus, The Company would benefit more from Employee B working on a different task that is also included in their employment specification. Employee A orders Employee B to shift to the other task. Employee B refuses to change tasks based on preference. Employee B is guilty of misconduct under code section 2.2.
Examples That Are Not Misconduct Under This Section:
- Employee A is Employee B’s supervisor. Employee B is having a pleasant conversation with Employee C, but should be working on an important task. Employee A interrupts the conversation and orders Employee B to return to working immediately. Employee B excuses themselves from the conversation and returns to work. There is no misconduct.
- Employee A is Employee B’s supervisor. Employee B has had some sort of falling out with Employee C, and is explaining their side of the story to Employees D and E , but should be working in an important task. Employee A interrupts the conversation and orders Employee B to return to working immediately. Employee B excuses themselves from the conversation and returns to work. There is no misconduct.
- Employee A is Employee B’s supervisor. Employee A has ordered all employees to adhere to a set of safety precautions while operating certain machines. Employee B suggests to some other employees how funny it would be to use one of the machines improperly and in a way that is non-conformal with the safety precautions. There is no misconduct.
- Employee A is Employee B’s supervisor. Employee B is working on something which is included in their employment specification. Employee A decides that, even though some productivity may be lost due to retooling and shifting focus, The Company would benefit more from Employee B working on a different task that is also included in their employment specification. Employee A orders Employee B to shift to the other task. Employee B retools and shifts to the other task. There is no misconduct.
