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France’s highest court has ruled that an employee cannot be fired for not regularly attending after-hours company parties involving heavy drinking and other debauchery.

The Paris consultancy firm, where the plaintiff worked, violated the employee’s right to freedom of expression with its ‘Fun and Pro’ corporate culture, the Court of Cassation in Paris ruled. It annulled the termination, for which the company had put forward other reasons.

The company failed to mandate end-of-week seminars and parties where providing large amounts of alcohol encouraged excess and encouraged bullying, dereliction and random sex, the court ruled. The Senior Consultant had seen his human dignity and respect for private life violated by a corporate culture that demeaned his privacy.

“You have to have fun at work, and our customers love it,” the company website said in general about the company culture. It is about strong mental flexibility and unwavering togetherness within the team and towards the customers. Employees must be independent, dynamic and passionate. (sda/dpa)