Behaviour management policy template
A free, ready-to-edit workplace behaviour management policy template for Australian employers. Set clear expectations, promote positive conduct and respond to issues with a fair, graduated and consistent process — no signup required.
Behaviour management policy
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By downloading, you agree to our template disclaimer
This behaviour management policy template reflects Australian employment and Fair Work standards at the time of publication and is provided as a general guide to adapt for your business. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
Why your workplace needs a behaviour management policy
A behaviour management policy sets out how your organisation promotes positive conduct and responds to behaviour that falls short. It gives managers a clear, fair and consistent framework — so concerns are addressed early and proportionately rather than ad hoc.
Without a documented process, behaviour issues get handled inconsistently, which risks disputes and unfair dismissal claims. A graduated approach — from an informal conversation through to formal warnings and, ultimately, termination — gives employees the chance to improve and gives you a defensible record at each step. It works alongside your code of conduct and misconduct policy.
Document each conversation and outcome, and store the records securely in your HR software so the process is consistent, transparent and easy to follow.
What a behaviour management policy should cover
A balanced framework for promoting and managing conduct
Clear expectations
Explicitly defined standards of conduct, understood by everyone.
Positive reinforcement
Recognising and encouraging the behaviour you want to see.
Preventative approach
Addressing concerns early before they escalate.
Graduated responses
A clear hierarchy of interventions, from informal to formal.
Fairness & consistency
The same process applied to everyone, with both sides heard.
Support
Help for employees to understand and improve their conduct.
What's included in this template
A complete framework for managing workplace behaviour
Purpose & scope
Why the policy exists and who it applies to.
Expected standards
The conduct expected of all employees.
Promoting positive behaviour
Recognition and proactive support for good conduct.
Graduated response
Informal discussion, verbal warning, written warning and beyond.
Investigation & fairness
Hearing both sides before any decision is made.
Serious misconduct
When immediate action, including dismissal, may apply.
Support & improvement
Helping employees meet expectations.
Record keeping
Documenting each step for consistency and transparency.
Review & acknowledgement
Policy maintenance and employee sign-off.
A fair, graduated response
Match the response to the behaviour — and document each step
Be fair and consistent
Apply the same process to everyone and give the employee a genuine chance to respond and improve. Consistency is your strongest protection if a decision is later challenged at the Fair Work Commission.
Reserve dismissal for serious cases
Most conduct issues should move through the graduated steps. Serious misconduct — such as theft, violence or serious safety breaches — may warrant immediate action, but still requires a fair process and clear documentation.
The graduated response
Informal discussion
Addressing the concern early through a private conversation.
Verbal warning
A formal notification of concern with expectations for improvement.
Written warning
A documented warning outlining the issue and required changes.
Final action
Final warning or termination where behaviour doesn't improve.
Document every conversation and outcome. Pair the policy with a fair misconduct process and, where performance is the issue, your performance management policy.
A graduated process isn’t just about discipline — it’s about giving people a clear path to improve. Combine it with positive reinforcement and support so the policy promotes good conduct, not just punishes poor conduct. Use a warning letter template to document formal steps consistently.
Who should use this template?
Any employer that wants conduct handled fairly and consistently
Especially useful for managers and supervisors who handle day-to-day conduct conversations.
Compliance resources
Official guidance on managing conduct and discipline fairly.
Keep conduct records consistent
RosterElf helps Australian businesses store policies, capture employee acknowledgements at onboarding and keep secure HR records — all in one place.
Related guides
Manage conduct fairly and keep good records
Related templates
Complete your conduct and performance toolkit
Behaviour management policy FAQ
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A workplace behaviour management policy sets out the conduct expected of employees and how the organisation responds when behaviour falls short. It typically combines clear expectations and positive reinforcement with a graduated response — from informal conversations through to formal warnings and termination — applied fairly and consistently.
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It should include the purpose and scope, expected standards of conduct, how positive behaviour is promoted, a graduated response framework, a commitment to fairness (hearing both sides), how serious misconduct is handled, support for improvement, record-keeping, and an employee acknowledgement.
Before you download
General information only — not legal advice
This document is a general HR template provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the latest changes in legislation or apply to every workplace situation. RosterElf Pty Ltd and the template provider accept no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this document. Users should seek independent legal advice and customise the template to ensure it complies with all relevant laws, awards and workplace requirements.