When Off-Duty Becomes On-Brand: What Leaders Need to Know About Employee Conduct in Public
Emily Rust
Wearing your company uniform while heckling a politician? That’s one way to go viral - for all the wrong reasons.
This week, a Tonkin + Taylor employee allegedly confronted Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters during a public event. The incident didn’t occur during work hours, but it did happen while the employee was dressed in company uniform - visibly representing their employer.
While some view it as an isolated act by a private citizen on a break, others argue the optics damage the company’s reputation - and by extension, its internal and external relationships.
The big question: can an employer take action for conduct that happens off the clock?
The answer here from Stones Expert Julia Shallcrass, Employment Lawyer: Yes - if there's a clear connection t