Woodside employees fired for fraud

Woodside Petroleum terminated the contracts of eight employees last year, mostly the result of fraud-related incidents, according to its latest sustainable development report.

The company said there were 71 reports of improper behaviour or breaches of its code of conduct investigated in 2014.

Of those, 43 were substantiated, 21 were unsubstantiated, and seven matters remain under or pending investigation.

“Of these substantiated matters, eight resulted in contract termination, 29 in a written warning and reduced performance rating, two in written warnings and four in verbal warnings,” Woodside said.

“Seven terminations were fraud-related, and 36 matters involved harassment or other inappropriate behaviour.”

The company said it had a zero-tolerance approach to unethical behaviour, and potential violations of the company’s code would be investigated investigated and, if substantiated, could result in disciplinary action.

“There were no legal findings against Woodside in relation to harassment, discrimination or equality in employment in 2014,” it said.

Woodside shares closed 1.2 per cent higher at $35.31 per share.