A French nurse was reinstated after a court ruled her wearing a calot was not a breach of hospital rules, rejecting claims it posed a hygiene risk.
Nurse Dismissed Over Wearing a Calot
Nurse Majdouline B., employed at the Pitié-Salpétrière hospital in Paris since 2018, was dismissed in November 2025 by the AP-HP, the public hospital authority, for regularly wearing a calot, a textile head covering used in operating rooms and intensive care units.Reason for Dismissal and Nurse's Response
The AP-HP cited the calot as a violation of hygiene and safety rules, but the nurse stated it was a matter of personal privacy and did not indicate any religious affiliation. She argued that the calot was not related to her beliefs.Legal Action and Reinstatement
In January, the nurse obtained a preliminary injunction, which suspended her dismissal. An administrative court ruled the sanction disproportionate and ordered her reinstatement. The AP-HP then changed the dismissal to an eight-month suspension.Court Examines the Case in Detail
In a recent decision, the administrative court examined the case in detail and found no internal rule prohibiting the calot for hygiene and safety reasons. It also noted that the AP-HP provided no evidence that the calot posed an infectious risk.Court Finds Sanction Disproportionate
The court ruled that the nurse's refusal to remove the calot did not seriously compromise public interest and that an eight-month suspension was disproportionate. It annulled the temporary exclusion and ordered her reinstatement with retroactive pay.Legal Representation and Public Reaction
The nurse's lawyer, Maitre Lionel Crusoé, said the court's decision aligned with expectations, emphasizing that the calot is a common item in hospitals. Healthcare workers testified that many wore calots without issue, and some were wrongly suspected of using them for religious reasons.Broader Implications and Statements
Blandine Chauvel, a staff representative at the Pitié-Salpétrière, criticized the assumption that a calot indicates religious affiliation, calling it a form of prejudice and racial discrimination. She welcomed the court's clarification to prevent such biases in the workplace.
