The High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands has upheld the disciplinary dismissal of a Dräger Medical Hispania SA employee after he failed to communicate during in-person training in Madrid, in a case that has sparked debate about workplace responsibility and personal crisis management in the corporate world.
The employee, with several years of experience at the company, attended the first training day without any problems and participated in social activities with his colleagues. However, after taking a taxi on an irregular route, costing 63 euros, he failed to show up for the second day, prompting immediate intervention by human resources.
The company's Human Resources director, concerned about the absence, filed a missing person report with the Usera police station. The employee appeared at the hotel hours later, collected his belongings, and headed to the airport without informing the company. He later claimed to have received medical attention in the emergency room for an anxiety attack.
In its ruling, the court made it clear that a subsequent medical diagnosis does not automatically exempt a worker from employment-related responsibilities, especially when there is a prolonged absence without prior notice or justification. The court's decision confirms that communication and foresight are essential elements in fulfilling contractual obligations, even in situations of personal emergency.
Labor law experts point out that this ruling sets a precedent in the Canary Islands on how to handle unjustified absences, balancing worker protection with the obligation to maintain operational and safe work environments.
