Italian bosses mustn't rise to the bait when someone tries to pick a fight, Italy's top court ruled Wednesday.
The Court of Cassation rejected an appeal by a boss who was sacked because he flew off the handle when one of his staff deliberately provoked him.
The incident took place at a corporate meeting at a hotel poolside three years ago.
The employee came up to the boss, a drugs company director, knocked his glass over and shouted insults at him. The court said the boss reacted excessively, and was justifiably dismissed, because he chased the employee and struck him.
The court was not told who won the ensuing fight.
But it stressed: "Managers who are entrusted with the running of a firm must always set a good example." The drugs boss had previously appealed unsuccessfully to a lower court.
