We hear a lot about the responsibilities that employers quite rightly owe their employees but there is another side to the employer/employee relationship: the duties of employees towards their employers.

Most employees have written contracts covering roles and duties. In addition to these terms, the courts have held that there are implied duties owed by an employee to their employer. These employee duties can be loosely classified as obedience, fidelity, and care and skill.

Probably the most important duty of an employee is to take direction and carry out the orders of their employer, provided the orders are legal, reasonable and ethical. Within this duty is the requirement of the employee to adapt to changing circumstances in the interests of their employer's business.

The duty of fidelity constitutes several obligations. Essentially, employees must serve their employer in good faith. They must act to protect their employer's interests and not disrupt the business of their employer. They must not make secret profits at the employer's expense or compete with their employer while in his or her employment. They must be honest, disclose material wrongdoing, not take bribes and not disclose confidential information nor use the employer's time for their own purposes. They must not conduct themselves in such a way as to bring their employer's business into disrepute or cause their employer to be in breach of law.

Employees are also expected to carry out their tasks and achieve a reasonable standard of competence. Their duty extends to treating the property of their employer with respect and carrying out their duties in such a manner as not to cause injury or damage.

Oisín Scollard is a barrister with legal and HR company Employment Clinic

www.employmentclinic.ie