Palm Beach State College Board Policy

Title: Grounds for Discipline and Termination of Employment

Policy Number: 6Hx-18-5.44

Legal Authority: 1001.64 FS, 1001.65 FS; 6A-14.0411 FAC, 6A-10.081 FAC

Date Adopted/Amended: Formerly P352.11; Readopted 2/27/1975; Amended 6/19/2001, 5/12/2009, 4/16/2024, 1/20/2026

 

Policy Statement

Palm Beach State College maintains a workplace built on respect, productivity, and accountability. This policy outlines the circumstances under which employment actions may be taken and the College’s approach to addressing concerns related to performance or conduct. The College applies standards and processes to support improvement, maintain operational effectiveness, and protect the reputation and standing of the College.


Grounds for Discipline and Termination

Employee performance and conduct are governed by the District Board of Trustees' policies, related procedures, and guidelines. Supervisors ordinarily address concerns through coaching and, where appropriate, progressive corrective measures that are documented opportunities for improvement.

In cases of serious misconduct or substantial performance deficiencies, the College may forgo progressive measures and take immediate disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Decisions will be based on the circumstances and documented findings, including the following:

1. Immorality: Conduct sufficiently disreputable to bring the individual concerned or the educational profession into public disgrace or disrespect and impair the individual’s service at the College or in the community.

2. Disruptive Conduct and Professional Standards: Participation in disruptive activities which interfere with the normal operation of the College pursuant to DBOT Policy 6Hx-18-5.19 and/or engaging in conduct, whether in person or through digital communication, that is disreputable and/or harms the College’s public image or credibility, and/or materially disrupts College operations, significantly impairs and/or compromises the employee’s ability to perform assigned duties, and/or undermines the respect and confidence of students, colleagues, or the community.

3. Misconduct: Deliberate, persistent, egregious, unlawful, dishonest or improper conduct by an employee which violates established rules, policies, directives, procedures or guidelines for performing assigned duties; mismanagement of public funds or trusts; falsification of records (regardless of format) including time clock entries, divulgence of confidential College information; and/or a violation of DBOT Policy 6Hx-18-5.90, Ethics Policy and/or the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida, as adopted by the State Board of Education.

4. Unfit for Duty: An inability to perform the required assigned duties, incompetency, inefficiency, insufficiency, and/or unacceptable work performance.

5. Insubordination: Refusal to comply with a directive that is reasonable in nature and within the scope of employment.

6. Willful Neglect of Duty: Deliberate or negligent continued failure of an employee to perform the duties assigned to them, or an intentional or negligent violation of the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida, as adopted by the State Board of Education.

7. Impairment: Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs whereby mental and/or physical abilities are affected in the process of performing job duties, and/or representing the College.

8. Conviction of any crime involving moral turpitude: A crime(s) that is/are evidenced by an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private, professional, or social duties which a person owes to another or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rules of right and duty between people.

9. Good and sufficient reasons, including but not limited to the following:

  1. Excessive tardiness, excessive/unexcused absenteeism.
  2. Failure to comply with federal/state statutes and regulations, and District Board of Trustees Policies and Procedures and guidelines.
  3. Refusal and/or failure to comply with applicable safety regulations, including but not limited to DBOT Policy 6Hx-18-4.70, Safety, Health, and Environmental Policy.
  4. Conviction of a felony, or any other criminal charge other than a minor traffic violation.
  5. Unlawful possession of weapons on or in College property.
  6. Failure to report damage or destruction of College property promptly to the supervisor, and/or the Safety department.
  7. Unauthorized removal and/or use of College property.
  8. Securing or maintaining a position with the College through deceptive or fraudulent means.
  9. Abusive or profane language, fighting, harassing, threatening, or coercing another person or people on campus or at a college-sponsored event, or through any online or digital platforms.
  10. Violation of DBOT Policy 6Hx-18-5.48, Unauthorized Absence from Duty/Job Abandonment Policy.
  11. The College prohibits most forms of gambling in the workplace. Where federal and state laws allow, the College may allow exceptions to this policy.
  12. Failure or refusal to cooperate in a College-led or College-sanctioned investigation, such as by (i) refusing to provide documents or information that an employee is reasonably required to produce, (ii) knowingly providing false or misleading information, or (iii) obstructing the investigative process.
  13. Unsatisfactory probationary observation period, pursuant to DBOT Policy 6Hx-18-5.93, Probationary Observation Period.
  14. Failure to handle and/or maintain confidential information, regardless of format, in violation of appropriate rules, guidelines, directives, or under commercially reasonable standards.
  15. Failure to comply with Florida Statute 553.865, “Safety in Private Spaces Act”, including willfully entering, for an unauthorized purpose, a restroom or changing facility designated for the opposite sex and refusing to leave when directed by an employee, administrator, or safety and security staff.
  16. Corrective Action Noncompliance: Failure to improve performance or conduct following progressive corrective action and/or performance appraisals.
  17. Failure to promptly report any serious violation of college policy, including theft, fraud, or other misconduct affecting the safety, security, or integrity of the College.