Overview
- The Labour Court of Brescia ruled the dismissal of a long‑serving employee was wholly disproportionate to the incident.
- The worker had been terminated for just cause after retrieving €1.60 not returned by a coffee machine, then returning the coins following a dispute.
- The employer also alleged threats toward a colleague, but the judge deemed the allegation generic and a witness described the conduct as rude, not threatening.
- The court noted it could not establish whether the technician consented to the coin retrieval and said the employer bore the burden of proof.
- Recognizing the employment relationship as ended, the court ordered an indemnity equal to 18 months’ salary, which the worker accepted without seeking reinstatement.