The Court of Cassation no. 12241/2023 rules harshly against a worker who refused, without justification, to participate in a free training course deemed essential to improve their skills.
Let's make a premise, the employer has the obligation to protect the employee's physical and mental health (article 2087 of the civil code), therefore they can impose on their employee a refresher course deemed essential for safety purposes.
Are there cases in which I can refuse to take a training course?
YES
However, by clearly and promptly stating the reasons for the refusal.
The refusal is justified if:
- the proposed training is irrelevant to the employee's role
- if it involves an excessive sacrifice of the professional's free time
- if the cost is charged to the employee
- if the employer does not comply with contractual rules regarding training.
What does the nurses' code of ethics say about this?
Chapter 2, art 10: The Nurse bases their work on knowledge validated by the scientific community and updates their skills through study and research, critical thinking, reflection based on experience and good practices, in order to guarantee the quality and safety of activities. They plan, carry out and participate in training activities and fulfill the obligations deriving from the Continuing Medical Education program.
