Former France Travail employee ordered to pay €4,000 after losing wrongful dismissal claim

He had hoped to obtain 173,016.64 euros from France Travail. At the end of the proceedings, the 57-year-old man, born in Morocco in January 1969, must instead pay 4,000 euros, including a 3,000-euro civil fine. In its ruling of October 9, 2026, the Schiltigheim labour court found that his dismissal for gross misconduct was fully justified.

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Hired in October 2010 as a highly experienced IT manager, the employee was suspended as a precautionary measure in August 2024 before being dismissed on October 11 that year. France Travail accused him of making several comments in a professional setting, which the employer said had been established by an internal investigation and colleagues’ testimony.

Two incidents weighed particularly heavily in the judges’ decision. During one exchange, a colleague asked him what he meant by “real men.” He reportedly replied that he meant men who beat their wives. In another incident, while preparing for a meeting, he associated a colleague of North African origin with the risk of an attack at an airport.

Comments deemed serious enough

The labour court found both incidents established by witness statements and the investigation report. It considered them sufficient to constitute gross misconduct, making it impossible for the employee to remain with the company.

The former manager had nevertheless filed a claim in October 2025 seeking a ruling that his dismissal was without real and serious cause. He sought, among other things, 89,000 euros in damages, 53,281 euros in severance pay and more than 22,000 euros in pay in lieu of notice. These amounts were in addition to claims for back pay, paid leave and 4,000 euros in legal fees.

The judges rejected all of his financial claims. They went further, penalizing him for his legal action. According to the court, before filing his claim, the former employee had sufficiently detailed information about the alleged conduct and the evidence gathered by France Travail. He nevertheless pursued the case without presenting any new evidence that could call the case against him into question.

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The court therefore found bad faith amounting to an abuse of the right to bring legal action. It imposed a 3,000-euro civil fine and ordered the employee to pay France Travail an additional 1,000 euros in legal costs, as well as court costs. The ruling was handed down at first instance; no appeal has been established.