An HR expert has shared the three workplace blunders that could lead to dismissal. Kate Underwood, founder of Southampton-based Kate Underwood HR and Training, identified poor judgement, dishonesty, and persistently overstepping professional boundaries as the primary reasons employees get sacked.
Slow Build-Up of Issues
Underwood explained that most people do not lose their jobs over a single tiny mistake. Instead, it is usually a slow accumulation of poor judgement, ignored feedback, attitude problems, or repeatedly thinking the rules apply to others but not oneself. She emphasized that employers can generally deal with mistakes, but they find it difficult to recover from dishonesty. Once trust is gone, rebuilding it becomes very challenging.
Warning Signs and Common Pitfalls
Underwood noted that phrases like "With all due respect" often indicate that respect has already diminished. Another growing concern is when employees treat workplace policies as mere suggestions rather than mandatory requirements. Policies regarding social media, confidentiality, harassment, and data protection are not inspirational suggestions; they exist for a reason, and employers take breaches seriously. She warned that ranting about a boss online while colleagues are tagged in a pub photo is unlikely to end well.
Conduct dismissed as "banter" can quickly escalate into disciplinary matters if it crosses professional boundaries. The phrase "it was just a joke" often signals the beginning of a downhill slide. Underwood also advised that life happens—trains fail, children lick walls, chaos exists—but disappearing without informing anyone frustrates colleagues and managers rapidly.
Career-Limiting Actions
Fake timesheets, mileage claims, or compliance logs are clear career-limiting decisions. Working another job while off sick is a significant issue, especially if someone claims to be too unwell to work but posts online from elsewhere. Underwood has seen genuinely talented individuals walk themselves out the door because they believed being excellent at their job granted immunity from behaving badly. Being brilliant at work does not cancel out poor conduct.
She also cautioned that probation periods or informal workplace cultures do not mean the rules do not apply. Employers are always paying attention, and breaches can lead to termination.
