A code of conduct sets out the standards of behaviour an employer expects from its employees - honesty, respect, conflict of interest rules, use of company property and similar. It is usually communicated at onboarding and forms part of the employment terms.
What it means
The code of conduct gives a disciplinary procedure something concrete to measure against - without a documented standard, it is harder to show an employee should reasonably have known certain conduct was unacceptable.
Where it fits in
The code of conduct itself has no payroll effect, but a breach of it is what triggers the disciplinary procedure that can, in turn, lead to a dismissal and the final pay process.
Key rules
- Sets the standards of behaviour an employer expects of employees.
- Communicated at onboarding, forming part of the employment terms.
- Gives the disciplinary procedure a documented standard to measure against.
- A breach is what triggers the disciplinary process, not payroll directly.
