Czech woman sacked for boycotting team-building exercise

Jan 18, 2011, 11:31 GMT

Prague - A Czech woman was sacked from her government job for refusing to pull a rope and build a tower as part of a team-building exercise with her colleagues, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.

Venuse Kindlova, a senior official in the north-western town of Usti nad Labem, was dismissed in 2008 after getting reprimanded by her boss for not cooperating during a weekend team-building effort, the daily Mlada Front Dnes reported.

The activity included pulling a rope and building a tower out of plastic cups.

'At my age it's humiliating,' she said. 'We agreed that I didn't have to do it.'

Kindlova sued her boss not only over her dismissal, but also for bullying her and for failing to pay her bonus.

A judge issued a preliminary ruling saying that although her boss was inappropriately demanding, payment of the bonus was at his discretion.

'Personal bonuses go to employees for above-standard performance, including their loyalty to their superiors,' the judge said. 'She should have either left or sought another post.'

A court is to decide on the appropriateness of Kindlova's dismissal in March.

The former official was well-respected by her colleagues, Mlada Fronta Dnes reported, and had won a presidential commendation for directing assistance during floods in 2002.

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