English Translation of a Judgment by the Conseil de prud’hommes

Our team recently translated into English a judgment handed down by the Conseil de prud’hommes, in a case opposing the French subsidiary of a U.S. company specialized in mobile terminals and one of its former employees.

A Dispute over a Contested Dismissal

The case concerned a dismissal for professional incompetence, which the employee claimed was unjustified.

In its decision, the Conseil de prud’hommes held that the employer had failed to prove the alleged shortcomings. The dismissal was therefore reclassified as a dismissal without real and serious cause, with the corresponding compensation awarded.

A Technical Decision, Translated with Precision

Translating a judicial decision involves:

• faithfully rendering the court’s legal reasoning,

• respecting the stylistic formulas specific to French employment tribunals,

• and ensuring consistency with Anglo-Saxon employment law terminology, without distorting the meaning.

📌 Key Equivalents from this Project

(contextual translation only)

• conseil de prud’hommes → employment tribunal

• contrat de travail → employment contract

• clause de non-concurrence → non-competition clause

• avenant → amendment

• entretien préalable au licenciement → pre-dismissal interview

• licenciement pour insuffisance professionnelle → dismissal for professional incompetence

• requalifié en licenciement sans cause réelle et sérieuse → reclassified as dismissal without real and serious cause

• demande reconventionnelle → counterclaim