Judgment No. 1028

• Organization: European Patent Organisation (EPO)
• Date: 26.06.1990
• Original: French
• Judges: Ducoux, Douglas, Pescatore
• Full judgment text - Full judgment text (french)

Decision

THE COMPLAINT IS DISMISSED.

Considerations 14-15, Summary

Extract:

The complainant was issued a reprimand after putting down insulting remarks about his supervisors on his staff report. Article 47(1) of the EPO Service Regulations says that employees "shall be entitled to make any comments" they consider relevant on their staff report. But the Tribunal holds that "the freedom of speech that provision safeguards plainly affords no excuse for insult and libel." The choice of sanction is wholly warranted.

Reference(s)

Organization rules reference: ARTICLE 47(1) OF THE EPO SERVICE REGULATIONS

Keywords

performance report; rebuttal; conduct; freedom of speech; disciplinary measure; censure