What is insubordination in the workplace?
Insubordination in the workplace can have severe consequences, both for the employer and the employee. An employer may lose productivity and revenue. An employee may lose his job.IdentificationAccording to the New York State Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, “Insubordination is a refusal by an employee to carry out a direct and proper order from a supervisor.”FactorsMany factors must be present to build a legal case for insubordination. For example, in the Utah public school system, the employee must have been given a clear order that she understood. The order must have been reasonable, work-related and did not put her in danger or violate public policy. Also, “The employee must be told that failure to obey the order will result in discipline up to and including termination.”ConsiderationsInsubordinate employees can cost the organization money in lost revenue and potential legal fees. The insubordinate employee may also bring down workplace morale.WarningInsubordinate employees
