Cooperation, Employee's Duty Of
Key points § Implicit in every contract of employment is the employee's duty to cooperate with his (or her) employer. This means obeying his employer's lawful and reasonable instructions, and doing his job efficiently and to the best of his capabilities. § The shop assistant who is dilatory in attending to the needs of customers, or the secretary who takes two hours to type a one-page memorandum, could each be said to be lacking in cooperation even though both might argue that they are doing what they have been paid to do, if not as fast as their employer might wish. § The receptionist at the front desk who is always grubby and untidy, or who deals with clients and visitors in a peremptory fashion, is not only damaging his (or her) employer's good name and commercial objectives, but is also in breach of contract and is liable to be dismissed. § Whether or not such conduct justifies summary dismissal would depend on the seriousness of the offence, its immediat...