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The Labor Court of São Paulo Condemned a Jewelry Store for Imposing Abusive Targets, Preventing Employees from Sitting, and Even Restricting Water Consumption, Acknowledging Moral Harassment and Determining Compensation of R$ 17 Thousand for Degrading Conditions.
According to the portal Migalhas, the Labor Court of São Paulo condemned a jewelry store to pay R$ 17 thousand in compensation to a salesperson subjected to a work environment described as humiliating and inhumane. The employee was prohibited from sitting or drinking water during work hours and faced constant threats related to meeting abusive targets.
The ruling, issued by Judge Viviany Aparecida Carreira Moreira Rodrigues of the 63rd Labor Court of São Paulo, acknowledged that the company created an environment of coercion and intimidation, violating labor laws and principles of dignity and occupational health.
Abusive Targets and Excessive Control
Witnesses confirmed that the prohibition was explicit: “it was prohibited to sit and drink water”, they reported to the court.
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The performance pressures were accompanied by threats of dismissal if the targets were not met.
This practice, according to the judge, exceeded the limits of business management and constituted systematic moral harassment.
The ruling also mentions that the female workers accumulated uncompensated overtime, which was only paid at termination.
The combination of aggressive targets, lack of breaks, and a constant pressure environment led the judge to classify the case as a serious violation of labor rights.
Lack of Seating and Degrading Conditions
In analyzing the case, the Labor Court found that the jewelry store had already been the target of other similar actions, involving the absence of adequate seating and the requirement to work long hours standing.
The judge pointed out that the Ministry of Labor requires employers to design workstations to allow for alternation between sitting and standing positions, as well as to provide seating during breaks.
For the judge, it was proven that the company not only violated ergonomics and health regulations but also humiliated its employees by denying basic conditions of physical and psychological dignity.
The restriction on water consumption and the prohibition on sitting, according to her, violate fundamental principles of respect for human dignity.
Recidivism and Disrespect for Labor Laws
Upon reviewing case law, the judge found that the company had already faced actions for similar practices, which demonstrated recidivism.
The ruling highlights that the jewelry store’s conduct endangers the health of female workers and contradicts the constitutional principle of valuing human labor.
The decision emphasizes that the work environment should guarantee not only productivity but also minimum conditions of well-being, and that the employer’s direction power cannot become an instrument of oppression.
Compensation and Symbolic Impact
Based on evidence and testimonies, the judge condemned the jewelry store to pay R$ 17 thousand in moral damages, highlighting that the amount has a punitive and educational character, serving as a warning to companies that still engage in abusive practices of cobrança and control.
The ruling reinforces the understanding that meeting targets does not justify the violation of basic rights.
The imposition of physical and psychological suffering to achieve commercial results is incompatible with Brazilian labor legislation, according to the judge.
A Portrait of Pressures in Commerce
The case highlights a recurring reality in sectors such as retail and luxury sales, where aggressive targets and daily pressures often exceed the limits of legality.
Labor law experts state that decisions like this strengthen oversight and encourage reports of moral harassment.
For the judiciary, protecting the mental and physical health of workers is an essential part of modern labor relations and not a privilege.
The judicial recognition of these violations is, therefore, a symbolic step in valuing dignified work.
The conviction shows that the courts have been positioning themselves more firmly against everyday abuses in labor relations, especially when there are practices that undermine human dignity.
Cases like this reinforce the importance of reporting abusive conduct and demanding safe and respectful conditions.
And you, have you witnessed or experienced situations of pressure and humiliation at work? Do you think that the compensation of R$ 17 thousand is enough to curb such practices? Share your opinion in the comments; we want to hear from those who know the reality from the inside.
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