Brazil labor courts rule on various termination and discrimination cases

Brazilian labor courts have issued several rulings regarding wrongful termination, discrimination, and employee conduct.

In Salvador, the TRT-BA upheld the dismissal for cause of a buffet assistant who consumed alcohol and behaved inappropriately during an event. Conversely, the TST increased an indemnity to R$ 30,000 for a worker dismissed after seeking a protective order against a domestic abuser who was also an employee.

Other notable rulings include a R$ 20,000 indemnity for a worker subjected to weight-based humiliation and a R$ 15,000 award for a telemarketing operator facing hair-loss-related bullying. In Espírito Santo, the TRT-17 maintained the dismissal of a pregnant worker, ruling that her 70-day absence constituted job abandonment, which overrides pregnancy stability protections.

Additionally, a nursing technician in Minas Gerais was awarded R$ 15,000 after the court recognized her dismissal was politically motivated. The courts continue to navigate complex issues such as the legality of transferring labor credits and the responsibility of employers to maintain a respectful work environment.