An act of gross misconduct by an employee is one considered to be so serious that the only appropriate course of action is dismissal without notice. This is also sometimes referred to as summary or instant dismissal. However, managers using these terms sometimes forget to follow normal disciplinary procedures as even summary and instant dismissal require the employee to be invited to an investigation, then to attend a formal hearing, then to be dismissed and then to be offered the right of appeal. Instant dismissal therefore usually takes around a week!! - more when it takes weeks/months to arrange meetings and to carry out investigations.
As an idea, check the wording of your disciplinary procedure to ensure that nothing in the wording will confuse managers about the process to follow when faced with actions of gross misconduct.
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