Which of the following statements about gross misconduct is true?

Gross misconduct refers to serious violations of workplace policies or behavior that can significantly disrupt the work environment or breach trust between an employer and employee. The key aspect of gross misconduct is its severity; it often involves actions such as theft, violence, or other illegal activities.

The reason that immediate dismissal is the appropriate answer is due to the nature of gross misconduct itself. When an employee engages in behavior that is classified as gross misconduct, it typically justifies an instant termination of employment without prior warnings. This principle is grounded in the understanding that such serious breaches undermine the fundamental relationship of trust and safety in the workplace, making it untenable for the employer to retain the employee.

In contrast, issues usually addressed through warnings or perceived as minor would not fall under the category of gross misconduct. Those would typically be handled with performance reviews or disciplinary actions that provide an opportunity for improvement. Gross misconduct, however, leaves little room for remediation in the moment, which is why immediate dismissal is a standard practice in such cases.