Paris Nurse Suspended for Eight Months Over Surgical Cap Dress Code Dispute

Madjouline B., a nurse at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris, was initially dismissed on November 10, 2025, for repeatedly wearing a surgical cap (calot) at work, which the Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) deemed inappropriate. She challenged the dismissal, leading the Paris administrative tribunal to rule in early January 2026 that while her wearing the cap warranted disciplinary action, her firing was a disproportionate penalty and ordered her reinstatement within one month.

However, AP-HP did not comply with the reinstatement order and instead modified the sanction to an eight-month suspension. This decision prompted dissatisfaction from Madjouline’s legal counsel and staff representatives. Her lawyer clarified that Madjouline never claimed any religious basis for wearing the cap but considered it a personal choice related to her private life.

The nurse, who has worked since 2018, and the tribunal’s ruling have highlighted the ongoing tension between workplace dress codes and individual rights to personal expression within professional settings. Blandine Chauvel, a staff representative, expressed concern over AP-HP’s refusal to abide by the court’s reinstatement order.

This case raises important questions about how institutions balance policy enforcement with respect for personal freedoms in the workplace, especially in sensitive environments such as hospitals.