Judgment 513
49th Session, 1982
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
To satisfy the rule on dismissal for misconduct, "it is not necessary for the organization to prove that the conduct of the staff member has actually brought the organization into public discredit. The section in which the rule appears is headed 'standards of conduct for staff members' and is concerned with the standards with which the staff member must comply irrespective of whether his non-compliance with them is or is not publicly known."
Keywords:
conduct; enforcement; organisation's reputation; provision; serious misconduct; termination of employment;
Judgment 475
47th Session, 1982
Intergovernmental Council of Copper Exporting Countries
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 9
Extract:
The complainant left without herself informing the chief of personnel that she would be absent for an indefinite period. She could have written to the organisation. She protracted her stay without being formally authorised to do so. The Secretary General was therefore right to terminate the contract, in accordance with the applicable provisions. "Considering the complainant's behaviour [...] he did not exceed the limits of his discretion in applying the most severe sanction."
Keywords:
conduct; disciplinary measure; discretion; misconduct; termination of employment; unauthorised absence;
Judgment 453
46th Session, 1981
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations 5-6
Extract:
In the opinion of the Tribunal there is enough evidence to show that the complainant was a man with whom it was difficult, and perhaps impossible, to work. Was there a reasonable likelihood that this defect might have been cured by remonstrance and warning ? The Director-General concluded that there was not. The Tribunal is not persuaded that the Director-General's conclusion that the complainant was unsuited for international service was clearly mistaken.
Keywords:
conduct; fitness for international civil service; judicial review; probationary period; termination of employment; working relations;
Judgment 427
45th Session, 1980
Pan American Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 7
Extract:
The question of the candidacy of a staff member for the office of director of the organization must be resolved by the Staff Regulations. "They might forbid staff members from standing as candidates or restrict their activities if they do stand. But, in the absence of an express regulation, a staff member is entitled to think that he is bound only by those standards of propriety to be observed by the candidates generally; otherwise the electoral processes would be unfair."
Keywords:
candidate; conduct; duty of discretion; election; enforcement; executive head; official; staff regulations and rules;
Consideration 2
Extract:
The reason for the decision not to renew the contract "was that the position which [the complainant] is said to have taken 'precludes all possibility of the continuation of a fruitful working relationship between yourself and the management'. This reason, on the face of it conclusive, is attacked by the complainant on the ground that the decision resulted from personal prejudice on the part of the Director or from incomplete consideration by him of the facts. These grounds [taken from the Staff Rules] fall within the Tribunal's limited power of review and are such, if they are established, as to authorise and require the Tribunal to quash the main decision not to renew."
Keywords:
bias; conduct; contract; fixed-term; judicial review; non-renewal of contract;
Consideration 12
Extract:
"The charge of misconduct is so preposterous and the Director's eagerness, before hearing the defence to the charge, to use it as a ground for dismissal is so manifest that resentment is the only explanation. Accordingly the Tribunal cannot view the letter [of dismissal] as that of a man who would be able to take a detached view of the conduct of the complainant whether in relation to a disciplinary charge or to an assessment of his future usefulness to the organization." The decision is defective as vitiated by prejudice.
Keywords:
bias; conduct; contract; fixed-term; non-renewal of contract; serious misconduct;
Judgment 410
44th Session, 1980
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 9
Extract:
The Tribunal quashed the decision to reprimand the complainant because it was not based on a complete consideration of the facts. "The complainant asks for an order for compensation and costs. Since however the Tribunal considers that the complainant's conduct, whether or not deserving of a reprimand, was improper, such an order would not be appropriate."
Keywords:
censure; conduct; disciplinary measure; disregard of essential fact; no award of costs;
Consideration 6
Extract:
"An incident of this sort between a P.6 officer and a regional director does not just explain itself [...]. It was essential for the Director-General to ascertain what explanation or excuse the complainant had to give. It cannot be said that it would inevitably have been unacceptable, since the [Appeals] Board, which characterised the complainant's conduct as 'not proper', none the less recommended that the reprimand should be withdrawn."
Keywords:
censure; conduct; disciplinary measure; inquiry; investigation; organisation's duties;
Judgment 349
40th Session, 1978
European Southern Observatory
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 32
Extract:
The complainant was summarily dismissed for disrespectful conduct. His dismissal was out of proportion with the offence. "The Tribunal will not order the reinstatement of the complainant. This could create a difficult situation [...] for which the complainant's abrasive conduct would be partly to blame." Compensation must be substantial: he had indefinite employment in an excellent post and suffered serious economic losses from the loss of employment. "The Tribunal must however take account of the fact that while the complainant's employment with the organisation might have lasted for the rest of his working life, [he was thirty years of age at the time.] There is a risk that a man of his temperament might sooner or later have given just cause for dismissal."
Keywords:
amount; conduct; contract; insubordination; material damages; misconduct; permanent appointment; proportionality; termination of employment;
Consideration 24
Extract:
The complainant's attitude and expressions were interpreted as showing a degree of disrespect to his direct superior, who had not however made any rebuke on earlier occasions and who found himself as negotiator in confrontation with the complainant in meetings on working conditions. "[T]he Tribunal concludes that any offence that was given did not deserve more than a reprimand." The selection of the appropriate penalty is a discretionary one, but this discretion must be exercised subject to the principle of proportionality. "[T]he penalty of summary dismissal was out of proportion to any offence committed."
Keywords:
conduct; disciplinary measure; discretion; insubordination; misconduct; proportionality; summary dismissal; termination of employment;
Judgment 318
39th Session, 1977
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
"The Tribunal is competent to review the lawfulness of any decision by the Director-General [...]. In particular it may determine whether that decision [is tainted by any of the flaws which entitle the Tribunal to interfere]. The Tribunal may not [...] replace with its own the executive head's opinion of a staff member's performance, conduct or fitness for international service."
Keywords:
conduct; discretion; fitness for international civil service; judicial review; qualifications; work appraisal;
Judgment 291
38th Session, 1977
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
"Supposing that [the] decision were indeed based on action taken by the complainant [...] when he sent his superior a letter couched in highly improper language which could not be tolerated from [a] subordinate, the Tribunal would not be entitled to quash a decision to remove from the staff of the organisation one whose attitude was on several occasions plainly at odds with the basic duties of [an] international official. In any event such an attitude would in law warrant refusing the complainant a further appointment."
Keywords:
conduct; contract; fitness for international civil service; fixed-term; grounds; insubordination; non-renewal of contract;
Judgment 282
37th Session, 1976
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
"A clear distinction must be drawn between the quality of a staff member's work, as reflected in such things as performance reports and promotion, and specific facts or a general attitude at variance with his duties as a staff member and warranting disciplinary action."
Keywords:
conduct; elements; fitness for international civil service; promotion; rating; staff member's duties; work appraisal;
Judgment 274
36th Session, 1976
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 22
Extract:
Under FAO Manual provision 330.151, unsatisfactory conduct consists of "conduct which is incompatible with the staff member's undertaken or implied obligation to the organization." "The unsatisfactory performance of staff duties is clearly within this general definition." A staff member's conduct of his private life or his trade union activities are not, apart from exceptional cases, the concern of the Director-General.
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: PARAGRAPH 330.151 FAO MANUAL
Keywords:
competence; conduct; executive head; outside activity; staff member's duties; staff union activity;
Consideration 27
Extract:
The complainant was reprimanded on two occasions, the second being related to the first. "Since the Tribunal is setting aside the Director-General's conclusions about the earlier incident, it is clear that the second reprimand cannot in any event remain on the complainant's record in its existing form. The Tribunal considers therefore that the second reprimand should be set aside and that the matter should be remitted to the Director-General so that he can consider whether the [second] incident [...] is sufficiently grave to be by itself deserving of a reprimand."
Keywords:
conduct; disciplinary measure; freedom of association; reprimand; staff representative;
Consideration 22
Extract:
"Activities within the staff organization [...] constitute an area that is 'prima facie' outside the Director-General's jurisdiction. [...] There may be exceptional cases. [...] As a general rule a staff member gives no undertaking, express or implied, about how she will conduct herself in the business of the Staff Council or its organs."
Keywords:
competence; complainant; conduct; executive head; freedom of association; staff union; staff union activity;
Consideration 26
Extract:
"When [the complainant] is present at a meeting of the [organization's] council or of its committees [she] must behave with the same propriety as any other staff member. If there was here an act of misconduct, the fact that it was committed by a staff representative for a serious purpose mitigates the offence but does not extinguish it."
Keywords:
conduct; consequence; freedom of association; misconduct; staff member's duties; staff representative; staff union;
Consideration 22
Extract:
When the offending conduct falls outside staff duties, "each case must be examined carefully to see whether an obligation has been broken". A staff member's conduct of his private life is not the concern of the Director-General, unless it brings the organization into disrepute. In the same way, trade union activities fall outside the competence of the Director-General, although there may be exceptions.
Keywords:
competence; conduct; executive head; freedom of association; judicial review; outside activity; staff member's duties; staff union activity;
Considerations 6-7
Extract:
The complainant was reprimanded for her criticisms of two members of the Staff Council, of which she was herself a member. "The organization's case is simply that to cast doubt upon the integrity of another staff member is misconduct. In the opinion of the Tribunal this is too broad a proposition. [...] On a charge of misconduct motive and intent are relevant".
Keywords:
conduct; grounds; judicial review; reprimand; staff representative;
Consideration 22
Extract:
"Freedom of association means that there must be freedom of discussion and of debate, and this freedom when feelings run strong [...] can spill over into extravagant and even regrettable language. The Staff Council has its own rules for dealing with misdemeanours of this sort. There could be no true freedom of association if the disapproval of the Director-General, whether justified or not, of what was said could lead to disciplinary measures.
Keywords:
conduct; consequence; disciplinary measure; freedom of association; freedom of speech;
Judgment 266
36th Session, 1976
European Southern Observatory
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
"It appears from the facts of the case that [...] the complainant's attitude had not been such as is expected of an international official and that in particular he committed serious acts of misconduct which cast doubt on his integrity. The behaviour of which the complainant was accused - and the falsity of those accusations is not established - is such as to afford lawful grounds for the impugned decision. It was open to the Director-General to take disciplinary action against the complainant on the grounds of that behaviour and he was therefore entitled, as he in fact did, merely to refuse to renew his contract."
Keywords:
conduct; contract; disciplinary procedure; fitness for international civil service; fixed-term; non-renewal of contract; serious misconduct; subsidiary;
Judgment 247
33rd Session, 1974
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 16
Extract:
"[I]t does not in the least follow that because a director confers upon one of his subordinates a limited authority in certain matters, that subordinate is thereby raised hierarchically and entitled to exact all the respect which is due to a superior."
Keywords:
conduct; consequence; delegated authority; staff member's duties; supervisor; working relations;
Consideration 15
Extract:
In this case, there was a substantial matter in dispute. "The complainant did not dispute the commission of an act because he was not charged with the commission of an act; but being charged with an insubordinate attitude, he disputed that he owed a duty of subordination."
Keywords:
conduct; insubordination; staff member's duties; supervisor;
Consideration 19
Extract:
If the complainant had been accused of making a charge which he knew to be false, the matter would have fallen within the scope of disciplinary measures. "If it is not so alleged, then it must be open to one official, when making a complaint about another, whether his superior or not, to state what he honestly believes without fear of its being treated as insubordination."
Keywords:
conduct; insubordination; staff member's duties; supervisor; working relations;
Consideration 21
Extract:
The Director General erred in law in treating the complainant's attitude towards an official as unsatisfactory service; he erred in law in concluding that at the material time, this official was the complainant's superior or supervisor; in concluding that the complainant was guilty of insubordination, he drew a clearly mistaken conclusion from the facts. "The decision [...] is quashed; the complainant [shall be] paid the increment due to him [...] with interest thereon at 6 per cent per annum."
Keywords:
amount; conduct; flaw; increment withheld; insubordination; interest on damages; material damages; mistaken conclusion; supervisor; unsatisfactory service; working relations;
Considerations 15, 16 and 21
Extract:
Having been accused of insubordination, the complainant questioned the existence of a duty of subordination. "Accordingly, the offence, if any, of the complainant was an offence against discipline and the Director-General erred in dealing with it as a matter of unsatisfactory service." The Director-General "erred in law in treating the complainant's attitude towards [another official] as unsatisfactory service."
Keywords:
complainant; conduct; disciplinary measure; insubordination; misconduct; unsatisfactory service;
Consideration 13
Extract:
"Unsatisfactory conduct may or may not affect the quality of the service given. It would be easy to pick out from the [...] examples of misconduct [enumerated in the Regulations] a number which could not affect the service at all. It would also be easy to imagine acts of insubordination or pieces of impertinence which would not affect the service given".
Keywords:
conduct; insubordination; satisfactory service; work appraisal;
Judgment 237
33rd Session, 1974
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 1
Extract:
The serious misconduct with which the complainant was charged consisted of 1) taking an official car and using it for his own purposes and returning it in a damaged condition; 2) reporting for duty the next day in an intoxicated condition. On the first charge, the Tribunal "concludes that in the circumstances the complainant's misconduct justified his dismissal under the regulations." The second charge was not serious enough to warrant dismissal, but since the first was sufficient, "this conclusion is immaterial."
Keywords:
conduct; disciplinary measure; judicial review; proportionality; serious misconduct; termination of employment;
Considerations
Extract:
"To come on duty smelling of alcohol is reprehensible but does not amount to misconduct serious enough to justify dismissal."
Keywords:
conduct; misconduct; proportionality; serious misconduct; termination of employment;
Judgment 229
32nd Session, 1974
International Labour Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 2(h)
Extract:
"[T]he Director-General did not draw conclusions which are clearly false from the facts brought to his attention. Over and above the various criticisms, couched in more or less veiled terms, of the complainant's relations with other staff members, the organisation's financial difficulties [...] warranted the decision to terminate the appointment of a staff member whose services appeared no longer necessary."
Keywords:
budgetary reasons; conduct; contract; fixed-term; non-renewal of contract; working relations;
Judgment 170
25th Session, 1970
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 4
Extract:
"Since they constitute serious misconduct within the meaning of [the applicable provision], the misappropriations attributed to the complainant justify his dismissal in accordance with that provision."
Keywords:
conduct; serious misconduct; termination of employment;
Consideration 3
Extract:
"Even assuming that the project manager was at fault, the complainant's guilt is not thereby ruled out. [I]n short, all the circumstances of the case suggest that the complainant's guilt should be regarded as established with a probability approaching certainty."
Keywords:
conduct; evidence; standard of proof;
Judgment 169
25th Session, 1970
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 4
Extract:
"[B]ecause of its tone as well as its content the complainant's correspondence shows a mentality incompatible with the performance of the duties of an international official. In terminating his appointment the Director-General therefore neither misinterpreted the facts brought to his attention nor drew clearly mistaken conclusions." It is irrelevant that the complainant's services were described as satisfactory; "it is not his professional competence but his character which is at issue."
Keywords:
conduct; fitness for international civil service; probationary period; satisfactory service; termination of employment;
Judgment 162
24th Session, 1970
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 1
Extract:
The complainant contests the validity of his statement admitting participation in the traffic of foreign currency. The particulars of the statement are too detailed to have been invented by third parties. Even if the complainant did not himself draft the statement, he is bound by the signature to the document. He claims to have yielded to threats and improper treatment which are highly improbable and in any case not of such a kind as to force him to confess to imaginary acts of misconduct. The statement must therefore be held to be true.
Keywords:
appraisal of evidence; conduct; evidence; lack of consent; staff member's duties;
Judgment 160
24th Session, 1970
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 2
Extract:
Vide Judgment 162, consideration 1.
Reference(s)
ILOAT Judgment(s): 162
Keywords:
appraisal of evidence; conduct; evidence; lack of consent; serious misconduct; staff member's duties;
Judgment 159
24th Session, 1970
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 1
Extract:
Vide Judgment 162, consideration 1.
Reference(s)
ILOAT Judgment(s): 162
Keywords:
appraisal of evidence; conduct; evidence; lack of consent; serious misconduct; staff member's duties;
Judgment 154
23rd Session, 1970
International Labour Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 2(D)
Extract:
The demonstrations to which the complainant's arrival had given rise led the organisation to order the complainant's transfer. It is regrettable that before assigning the complainant to his post the organisation should not have satisfied itself that his assignment would raise no difficulties. "However, the complainant could not fail to be aware of the difficulties to which his assignment [...] might give rise, and he cannot therefore properly complain that the organisation lacked information which according to the normal standards of good faith he himself should have supplied."
Keywords:
conduct; duty to inform; good faith; grounds; organisation's duties; organisation's interest; transfer;
