He was fired for “not being fun” and then took the company to court: You won’t believe how much money he got
A French consultant fired for refusing to join office parties convinced judges his dismissal violated basic workplace rights and personal freedom.
A legal fight in France has reignited discussion about where to draw the line between a company’s team-building expectations and a worker’s individual rights. The case, widely discussed inside and outside the country, centers on an employee who lost his job after refusing to take part in the company’s regular social activities.
The Paris Court of Appeals has ordered the reinstatement of a worker dismissed for not being deemed entertaining enough on the job. Judges also ruled that the company must pay him more than $575,000 in compensation after declaring the dismissal invalid.
A long conflict reaches a turning point
The dispute dates back to November 2022, when a lower court first ruled in favor of the employee, identified as Mr. T, and affirmed that he had the right to decline the company’s frequent party-style gatherings. Hired in 2011 as a consultant, he had been fired for alleged poor performance and for not fitting into what the company described as its fun and professional values.
In March 2021, the Court of Appeals had rejected his claim for compensation, upholding some of the company’s complaints about his rigidity, lack of focus and demotivating tone with subordinates. Everything changed, however, when France’s Supreme Court issued a new decision on Jan. 30.
Judges defend freedom of expression
The high court ruled in the worker’s favor, arguing that the dismissal violated his freedom of expression and his right to question internal practices, both considered fundamental rights. According to his attorney, the ruling represents common sense and brings closure to a case that has drawn widespread public attention.
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