A French waiter who was fired for his “aggressive, rude and disrespectful” manner has claimed compensation, insisting that his behaviour is not unusual, but that he is simply French.
Guillaume Rey, who worked at a restaurant in Vancouver, Canada, has filed a complaint with British Columbia's Human Rights Tribunal against his former employer, claiming “discrimination” against his culture, The Local reports.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In response to the accusations, Rey claimed French culture “tends to be more direct and expressive”, and that he feels he was sacked due to his “direct, honest and professional personality”, which he acquired while training in France's hospitality industry.
“Both parties agree Rey performed well at his job, despite his allegedly disagreeable demeanour,” RTE reports, adding that the restaurant and its parent company has attempted to dismiss the complaint.
However, tribunal member Devyn Cousineau denied the dismissal, meaning the hearing will go ahead, although she added that the application's denial “should not be seen as an indication of the case's outcome”.
“Rey will have to explain what it is about his French heritage that would result in behaviour that people misinterpret as a violation of workplace standards of acceptable conduct,” she wrote.
The Daily Telegraph writes that the French authorities are “aware” of the country’s “reputation for rudeness”, adding that in 2015 the tourist board of France launched a “multi-million-euro drive to improve their difficult relationship with service and by extension our relation to others”.
Three years earlier, the city paid “smile ambassadors” to be friendly to tourists at the city’s main attractions – thought the site adds that this plan was implemented “to little avail”.
-
5 hawkish cartoons about Pete Hegseth's meeting of military muscleCartoons Artists take on fat generals, bravery medals, and more
-
Why are American conservatives clashing with Pope Leo?Talking Points Comments on immigration and abortion draw backlash
-
9 haunted hotels where things definitely go bump in the nightThe Week Recommends Don’t fear these spirited spots. Embrace them.
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
