French court official wrongly fired for not being “fun”.

A French court ruled a man was wrongly fired for not participating in the company’s “fun” activities, which often involved violent parties and bullying.

The employee, identified as Mr. T in court documents, was fired from Cubik Partners in 2015 for failing to integrate the company’s “Fun & Pro” value into his work life.

Mr. T., who was a director and four-year employee of the consulting firm, skipped seminars and weekend events that typically involved “excessive alcoholism” and “practices advocated by employees that associate promiscuity, bullying and incitement with various excesses,” the filing Conditions.

The culture at the company is more humbling than fun, argued Mr. T.

Employees participated in “sham sexual acts” and were asked to share beds with colleagues on seminar trips. It was common practice for employees to use crude nicknames for one another and to post distorted, “fictitious” photos around the offices.

Cubik fired Mr. T. for sitting on the sidelines at social events and for his rigid and demure attitude towards his colleagues. The company alleged that Mr. T used a demotivating tone towards subordinates and refused to listen to his colleagues, especially when their views differed from his.

The Court of Cassation ruled that Mr T was entitled to both his perceived bad attitude and his absence from social work events.

Mr. T. is entitled to “freedom of expression” under labor and human rights laws and is not required to participate in Cubik Partners’ social activities, the court said. According to the verdict, the company’s dissatisfaction with its attitude was merely a criticism of its behavior.