What Is Insubordination? | HR Glossary | BambooHR
An employee's deliberate refusal to follow a reasonable and lawful instruction from a manager.
Insubordination is the wilful refusal to obey a reasonable, lawful instruction, or open defiance of legitimate management authority. It can range from a one-off refusal to a persistent pattern of disruptive behaviour.
Not every disagreement amounts to insubordination; the instruction must be reasonable and lawful, and the refusal deliberate rather than a genuine misunderstanding or legitimate concern.
Employers should address it through a fair disciplinary process, distinguishing serious defiance from justified objections such as safety concerns.
