Insubordination is the deliberate ignoring, disobedience, or refusal to follow the instructions of an authority or group. The term is more commonly used in the military, but it also applies to the workplace, where an employee refuses to follow the instructions of his manager, another superior, or the entire organization.

Insubordination is a type of misconduct that  can have far-reaching effects within an organization  . It can harm the overall functioning of the organization, undermine an officer's credibility, or harm morale and productivity. Insubordination is generally considered a serious offense, and is often   grounds for  disciplinary action ,  including dismissal from military service or a letter of dismissal from an employer.

What are examples of defiance?

Specific examples of insubordination will be unique to the person or organization where they occur. However, here are some common behaviors and actions that can be classified as insubordination:

• Refusal to obey a direct order from an authority.  For example, an employee  may refuse to complete a task assigned by his manager  .
• Violating company policies or procedures.  An employee   may ignore  terms of employment or established policies or procedures, even if they have been specifically instructed to follow them. For example, an employee may post derogatory comments about the company on social media  , even though the employee handbook strictly prohibits such behavior.
• Interrupting work or hindering productivity.  Insubordination can also include actively interrupting work or impeding productivity, such as  deliberately slowing down progress or causing problems  .

It is important to distinguish defiance from other problematic behaviors such as harassment or absenteeism. However, defiance is often accompanied by other types of misbehavior.

• Disrespecting or challenging authority. Insubordination   is often accompanied  by disrespect or confrontational behavior toward a person in a leadership position , such as arguing with him or her (as opposed to respectfully and productively expressing disagreement).
• Disrupting team dynamics or undermining authority. An  employee who is disobedient may also engage in behavior that undermines the authority of his or her supervisor or the organization, such as spreading rumors or gossip about them or encouraging others to disobey their instructions. This behavior  can affect other team members  and hinder the completion of tasks.

What is considered insubordination at work?

According to SHRM, official workplace insubordination occurs when the following  three factors  are present:

1. An employer makes a legitimate and reasonable request of an individual employee or the workforce as a whole.
2. The employee  receives the order  .
3. The employee refuses to accept, obey or carry out the order.

The instruction may be verbal, written, or   defined as part of  the employee's job description . It may be passed from a supervisor to their direct reporter  , the business owner, or another authority. The employee's receipt of the instruction does not require a formal acknowledgement; it may be as informal as attending a meeting or reading an email containing the instruction.

The main difference between insubordination and other types of misconduct is that the employee  intentionally disobeys the order.  They may do this by verbally stating that they will not carry out the order, ignoring the order (also called nonverbal refusal), or taking an unreasonable amount of time to carry out the order.

If the employee misunderstands instructions, does not receive instructions, or is unable to complete the task due to a misunderstanding or obstacle, this is  not  considered insubordination. Additionally, if an employee refuses to do something that is illegal, unethical, or unsafe, this is not considered insubordination.

What are the grounds for disobedience?

The specific grounds for insubordination may vary depending on the specific circumstances and the organization's policies and procedures. As described above, insubordination requires a clearly communicated order from the employer and a deliberate action by the employee to undermine the order or refuse to comply. Insubordination  grounds for termination  typically include a single serious act of insubordination or repeated acts that have been documented and eventually result in dismissal.

What is the difference between disobedience and misconduct?

Insubordination is a specific type of misconduct that involves disobedience or refusal to follow the orders of a superior. Misconduct  is a broad term that refers to behavior that is considered inappropriate or wrong in a particular context  . Misconduct can take many forms and include a wide range of behaviors, such as disobedience, theft, harassment, fraud, or violations of company policies or local and federal laws.