We hope most employees wouldn’t have to be told by HR that spitting at your boss isn’t a good idea.
A teacher, identified only as Antonino R., was reprimanded for spitting in the direction of the female school principal three times during a meeting at a Palermo, Italy, training institute.
The teacher said his spitting represented his opinion about the oppressive behavior of the principal. He also claimed his spit couldn’t have reached the principal because his mouth was dry from the heated argument that led to the incident.
The judges who heard the teacher’s appeal of the reprimand said whether the spit could reach the principal was irrelevant.
The court said spitting isn’t a legitimate means of critical expression.
