Peru court rules city was wrong to fire drunk maid

[January 15, 2009]  LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Peru's top court said showing up to work drunk isn't enough to get you fired, less so if you aren't likely to put others at risk.

Peru's constitutional court ruled a seaside district in Lima dealt out a punishment "disproportionate" to the crime by firing a maid for drinking on the job in 2004.

Judge Fernando Calle said that the firing was "abusive" because a maid "isn't a manager or a judge, she's not going to cause a car accident or kill anyone."

The court ruling said an employer has the right to fire a worker for "repeated" drunkenness, but not for an isolated incident.

Peru's Labor Minister said Wednesday that the ruling could set a bad precedent for other workers. The court ordered in October that the maid be restored to her post.

[Associated Press]

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