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Stealth sackings: Why do employers fire staff for minor misdemeanours?

A hard line on conduct could prevent bigger lapses, but it may prompt claims of disguised cost savings.

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There have been a series of employers quietly justifying smaller scale dismissals because of seemingly minor violations of company policy.

There have been a series of employers quietly justifying smaller scale dismissals because of seemingly minor violations of company policy.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASH

Anjli Raval

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Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy recently told employees that a new plan requiring them to be in the office five days a week did not amount to a “backdoor layoff”.

Yet his reported comments at a company-wide meeting last week did not rebut a previous suggestion from a senior manager that staff who fail to comply could look for work elsewhere.

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