Recently, the Regional Labor Court of the 15th Region ordered a large retailer to pay R$10,000 in moral damages to a former employee. The case highlighted unethical practices in the corporate environment, involving moral harassment and providing false information to consumers.
In the case cited, the former employee reported in the lawsuit that her supervisor frequently required the omission of important information about the existence of interest on installment purchases, in addition to intervening in negotiations, contradicting the employee in the presence of customers. This behavior culminated in insults, threats of dismissal and, later, the dismissal of the employee after a complaint was made to the company's ethics channel.
The court recognized that such practices violate ethical principles and consumer rights, especially by compromising transparency in commercial relations.
Recommendations for Companies
With the updates scheduled for 2025 in NR-1, including the incorporation of psychosocial risks into Occupational Risk Management (ORM), it is essential that organizations strengthen or improve their reporting channels. These must be efficient, safe and confidential, promoting an ethical, healthy work environment that complies with legal standards.
Recommended Actions:
Strengthening Reporting Channels: Ensure accessibility and protection for employees who report irregularities.
Continuous Training: Train leaders and teams on ethical conduct and applicable legislation.
Regular Audits: Monitor the effectiveness of reporting channels and internal policies.
Organizational Culture: Promote ethical values as a central pillar of business operations.
The TRT-15 decision reinforces the importance of transparency and respect for labor and consumer standards. Companies that neglect such obligations are subject to lawsuits, reputational damage and financial losses.
Our office is available to provide legal advice on implementing reporting channels and complying with new legal requirements, ensuring compliance and legal security for your company.
