France’s highest court has ruled that a man fired by a Paris-based consulting firm for allegedly failing to be “fun” enough at work was wrongfully dismissed.
Mr. T had argued that the “fun” culture in the company involved “humiliating and intrusive practices” including mock sexual acts, crude nicknames and obliging him to share his bed with another employee during work functions.
According to the court documents, the man was hired by Cubik Partners as a senior consultant in February 2011 and promoted to director in February 2014.
He was fired for “professional incompetence” in March 2015 for allegedly failing to adhere to the firm’s convivial values.
The company also criticized his sometimes “brittle and demotivating tone” toward subordinates, and alleged inability to accept feedback and differing points of view.
It is not the first time a company’s drinking culture has come under the microscope in court proceedings.
The legal minimum age for consuming alcohol in public is 18, but there is no regulation of alcohol consumption in private. »