서울중앙지방법원 | 2023-06-20 | 2022나42756
법원 판례 기준으로 판결요지와 원문 출처를 내부에서 확인하세요.
원문이 아닌 정리본이며, 저장된 요약의 끝부분이 잘려 있을 수 있습니다.
코로나19 팬데믹으로 인한 무급휴직의 귀책사유 및 휴업수당 지급 의무
결과 요약
- 근로자들의 항소를 기각하고, 회사의 무급휴직 처분이 불가항력적인 경영장애로 인한 것이며 정당한 인사권 범위 내의 적법한 처분으로 판단하여 휴업수당 청구를 기각함.
사실관계
- 회사는 여행업을 주된 사업으로 하는 회사이며, 근로자들은 회사에게 고용된 근로자들임.
- 회사는 코로나19 팬데믹으로 여행업이 위축되자 근로자들의 동의 없이 2021. 4. 1.부터 2021. 6. 30.까지 3개월간 무급휴직을 실시함.
- 근로자들은 회사의 휴업이 귀책사유에 의한 것이므로 근로기준법 제46조 제1항에 따라 임금의 70%를 휴업수당으로 지급해야 한다고 주장함.
핵심 쟁점, 법리 및 법원의 판단
무급휴직의 정당성 및 휴업수당 지급 의무
- 쟁점: 회사의 무급휴직 처분이 정당한지 여부 및 근로기준법 제46조 제1항에 따른 휴업수당 지급 의무가 발생하는지 여부.
- 법리:
- 근로기준법 제23조 제1항은 사용자가 근로자에게 정당한 이유 없이 휴직을 하지 못한다고 규정함.
- 휴직명령의 정당성은 경영상 필요성, 근로자가 받을 불이익, 대상자 선정 기준의 합리성, 신의칙상 절차 준수 여부를 종합적으로 고려하여 판단함.
- 인사명령은 사용자의 고유 권한에 속하며, 업무상 필요한 범위 안에서 상당한 재량을 인정해야 함.
- 구 근로기준법 제30조 제1항 위반 또는 권리남용에 해당하지 않는 한 위법하다고 할 수 없음.
- 법원의 판단:
- 이 사건 무급휴직은 회사의 경영상 이유로 인한 것이고 근로자들 동의를 받지 못했으므로, 원칙적으로 회사는 휴업수당을 지급할 의무가 있음.
- 그러나 회사는 코로나19 팬데믹으로 인해 대부분의 영업이 중단되었고, 2020년 약 992억 원, 2021년 1분기 약 323억 원, 2분기 약 166억 원, 3분기 약 212억 원의 당기순손실 및 영업손실을 기록함.
- 회사는 정리해고를 피하기 위해 근로자 대표와 협의하여 6개월간 유·무급 휴직을 실시하기로 합의하였고, 원고 3인을 제외한 1,300명에 가까운 직원들이 이에 동의함.
- 회사는 도산을 피하기 위해 자회사 청산, 지분매각, 본사 사옥 및 호텔 매각, 일시 차입 등 많은 노력을 기울였음.
- 이러한 노력으로 정리해고를 피하고 6개월의 유·무급 휴직 후 2021년 10월부터 영업을 재개하여 직원들을 복귀시킬 수 있었음.
확보한 수집 내용입니다. 전문 여부와 앞뒤 누락, 문단·표·공백의 원형 보존은 확인되지 않았습니다.
공식 원문 미확인
1. 원고들의 항소를 모두 기각한다. 2. 항소비용은 원고들이 부담한다.
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\ud53c\uace0\ub294 \ucf54\ub85c\ub09819 \ud32c\ub370\ubbf9\uc73c\ub85c \uc5ec\ud589\uc5c5\uc774 \uc704\ucd95\ub418\uc790 \uc6d0\uace0\ub4e4\uc758 \ub3d9\uc758 \uc5c6\uc774 2021. 4. 1.\ubd80\ud130 2021. 6. 30.\uae4c\uc9c0 3\uac1c\uc6d4\uac04 \ubb34\uae09\ud734\uc9c1\uc744 \uc2e4\uc2dc\ud568.\n- \uc6d0\uace0\ub4e4\uc740 \ud53c\uace0\uc758 \ud734\uc5c5\uc774 \uadc0\ucc45\uc0ac\uc720\uc5d0 \uc758\ud55c \uac83\uc774\ubbc0\ub85c \uadfc\ub85c\uae30\uc900\ubc95 \uc81c46\uc870 \uc81c1\ud56d\uc5d0 \ub530\ub77c \uc784\uae08\uc758 70%\ub97c \ud734\uc5c5\uc218\ub2f9\uc73c\ub85c \uc9c0\uae09\ud574\uc57c \ud55c\ub2e4\uace0 \uc8fc\uc7a5\ud568.\n## \ud575\uc2ec \uc7c1\uc810, \ubc95\ub9ac \ubc0f \ubc95\uc6d0\uc758 \ud310\ub2e8\n### \ubb34\uae09\ud734\uc9c1\uc758 \uc815\ub2f9\uc131 \ubc0f \ud734\uc5c5\uc218\ub2f9 \uc9c0\uae09 \uc758\ubb34\n- **\uc7c1\uc810:** \ud53c\uace0\uc758 \ubb34\uae09\ud734\uc9c1 \ucc98\ubd84\uc774 \uc815\ub2f9\ud55c\uc9c0 \uc5ec\ubd80 \ubc0f \uadfc\ub85c\uae30\uc900\ubc95 \uc81c46\uc870 \uc81c1\ud56d\uc5d0 \ub530\ub978 \ud734\uc5c5\uc218\ub2f9 \uc9c0\uae09 \uc758\ubb34\uac00 \ubc1c\uc0dd\ud558\ub294\uc9c0 \uc5ec\ubd80.\n- **\ubc95\ub9ac:**\n- \uadfc\ub85c\uae30\uc900\ubc95 \uc81c23\uc870 \uc81c1\ud56d\uc740 \uc0ac\uc6a9\uc790\uac00 \uadfc\ub85c\uc790\uc5d0\uac8c \uc815\ub2f9\ud55c \uc774\uc720 \uc5c6\uc774 \ud734\uc9c1\uc744 \ud558\uc9c0 \ubabb\ud55c\ub2e4\uace0 \uaddc\uc815\ud568.\n- \ud734\uc9c1\uba85\ub839\uc758 \uc815\ub2f9\uc131\uc740 \uacbd\uc601\uc0c1 \ud544\uc694\uc131, \uadfc\ub85c\uc790\uac00 \ubc1b\uc744 \ubd88\uc774\uc775, \ub300\uc0c1\uc790 \uc120\uc815 \uae30\uc900\uc758 \ud569\ub9ac\uc131, \uc2e0\uc758\uce59\uc0c1 \uc808\ucc28 \uc900\uc218 \uc5ec\ubd80\ub97c \uc885\ud569\uc801\uc73c\ub85c \uace0\ub824\ud558\uc5ec \ud310\ub2e8\ud568.\n- \uc778\uc0ac\uba85\ub839\uc740 \uc0ac\uc6a9\uc790\uc758 \uace0\uc720 \uad8c\ud55c\uc5d0 \uc18d\ud558\uba70, \uc5c5\ubb34\uc0c1 \ud544\uc694\ud55c \ubc94\uc704 \uc548\uc5d0\uc11c \uc0c1\ub2f9\ud55c \uc7ac\ub7c9\uc744 \uc778\uc815\ud574\uc57c \ud568.\n- \uad6c \uadfc\ub85c\uae30\uc900\ubc95 \uc81c30\uc870 \uc81c1\ud56d \uc704\ubc18 \ub610\ub294 \uad8c\ub9ac\ub0a8\uc6a9\uc5d0 \ud574\ub2f9\ud558\uc9c0 \uc54a\ub294 \ud55c \uc704\ubc95\ud558\ub2e4\uace0 \ud560 \uc218 \uc5c6\uc74c.\n- **\ubc95\uc6d0\uc758 \ud310\ub2e8:**\n- \uc774 \uc0ac\uac74 \ubb34\uae09\ud734\uc9c1\uc740 \ud53c\uace0\uc758 \uacbd\uc601\uc0c1 \uc774\uc720\ub85c \uc778\ud55c \uac83\uc774\uace0 \uc6d0\uace0\ub4e4 \ub3d9\uc758\ub97c \ubc1b\uc9c0 \ubabb\ud588\uc73c\ubbc0\ub85c, \uc6d0\uce59\uc801\uc73c\ub85c \ud53c\uace0\ub294 \ud734\uc5c5\uc218\ub2f9\uc744 \uc9c0\uae09\ud560 \uc758\ubb34\uac00 \uc788\uc74c.\n- \uadf8\ub7ec\ub098 \ud53c\uace0\ub294 \ucf54\ub85c\ub09819 \ud32c\ub370\ubbf9\uc73c\ub85c \uc778\ud574 \ub300\ubd80\ubd84\uc758 \uc601\uc5c5\uc774 \uc911\ub2e8\ub418\uc5c8\uace0, 2020\ub144 \uc57d 992\uc5b5 \uc6d0, 2021\ub144 1\ubd84\uae30 \uc57d 323\uc5b5 \uc6d0, 2\ubd84\uae30 \uc57d 166\uc5b5 \uc6d0, 3\ubd84\uae30 \uc57d 212\uc5b5 \uc6d0\uc758 \ub2f9\uae30\uc21c\uc190\uc2e4 \ubc0f \uc601\uc5c5\uc190\uc2e4\uc744 \uae30\ub85d\ud568.\n- \ud53c\uace0\ub294 \uc815\ub9ac\ud574\uace0\ub97c \ud53c\ud558\uae30 \uc704\ud574 \uadfc\ub85c\uc790 \ub300\ud45c\uc640 \ud611\uc758\ud558\uc5ec 6\uac1c\uc6d4\uac04 \uc720\u00b7\ubb34\uae09 \ud734\uc9c1\uc744 \uc2e4\uc2dc\ud558\uae30\ub85c \ud569\uc758\ud558\uc600\uace0, \uc6d0\uace0 3\uc778\uc744 \uc81c\uc678\ud55c 1,300\uba85\uc5d0 \uac00\uae4c\uc6b4 \uc9c1\uc6d0\ub4e4\uc774 \uc774\uc5d0 \ub3d9\uc758\ud568.\n- \ud53c\uace0\ub294 \ub3c4\uc0b0\uc744 \ud53c\ud558\uae30 \uc704\ud574 \uc790\ud68c\uc0ac \uccad\uc0b0, \uc9c0\ubd84\ub9e4\uac01, \ubcf8\uc0ac \uc0ac\uc625 \ubc0f \ud638\ud154 \ub9e4\uac01, \uc77c\uc2dc \ucc28\uc785 \ub4f1 \ub9ce\uc740 \ub178\ub825\uc744 \uae30\uc6b8\uc600\uc74c.\n- \uc774\ub7ec\ud55c \ub178\ub825\uc73c\ub85c \uc815\ub9ac\ud574\uace0\ub97c \ud53c\ud558\uace0 6\uac1c\uc6d4\uc758 \uc720\u00b7\ubb34\uae09 \ud734\uc9c1 \ud6c4 2021\ub144 10\uc6d4\ubd80\ud130 \uc601\uc5c5\uc744 \uc7ac\uac1c\ud558\uc5ec \uc9c1\uc6d0\ub4e4\uc744 \ubcf5\uadc0\uc2dc\ud0ac \uc218 \uc788\uc5c8\uc74c.\n- **\uc6d0\uace0\ub4e4\uc758 \uc8fc\uc7a5\uc740 \ud53c\uace0\uc758 \uacbd\uc601\uc704\uae30\uac00 \uba74\uc138\uc810 \ub4f1 \ubb34\ub9ac\ud55c \ud22c\uc790 \ub54c\ubb38\uc774\ub77c\uace0 \uc8fc\uc7a5\ud558\ub098, \uba74\uc138\uc810 \ub4f1 \uc0ac\uc5c5 \ubd80\uc9c4 \uc5ed\uc2dc \ud32c\ub370\ubbf9\uc758 \uc601\ud5a5\uc784\uc744 \ubd80\uc778\ud560 \uc218 \uc5c6\uc73c\ubbc0\ub85c \ubc1b\uc544\ub4e4\uc77c \uc218 \uc5c6\uc74c.**\n- **\uc885\ud569\uc801\uc73c\ub85c \ubcfc \ub54c, \uc6d0\uace0\ub4e4\uc5d0 \ub300\ud55c 3\uac1c\uc6d4 \ubb34\uae09\ud734\uc9c1 \uae30\uac04 \ub3d9\uc548\uc758 \ud53c\uace0\uc758 \ud734\uc5c5\uc740 \ud53c\uace0\uc758 \uc138\ub825\ubc94\uc704 \ubc16\uc5d0\uc11c \ubc1c\uc0dd\ud55c \ubd88\uac00\ud56d\ub825\uc801\uc778 \uacbd\uc601\uc7a5\uc560\ub85c \uc778\ud55c \uac83\uc73c\ub85c \ud53c\uace0\uc5d0\uac8c \uadc0\ucc45\uc0ac\uc720\uac00 \uc788\uc5c8\ub2e4\uace0 \ubcf4\uae30 \uc5b4\ub824\uc6c0.**\n- **\ub530\ub77c\uc11c \ud53c\uace0\uc758 \ubb34\uae09\ud734\uc9c1 \ucc98\ubd84\uc740 \uc0ac\uc6a9\uc790\uc758 \uc815\ub2f9\ud55c \uc778\uc0ac\uad8c \ubc94\uc704 \ub0b4\uc5d0\uc11c \ud589\ud574\uc9c4 \uc801\ubc95\ud55c \ucc98\ubd84\uc774\uba70, \uc0ac\uc6a9\uc790\uc5d0\uac8c \uadc0\ucc45\uc0ac\uc720\uac00 \uc788\ub294 \ud734\uc5c5\uc784\uc744 \uc804\uc81c\ub85c \ud558\ub294 \uadfc\ub85c\uae30\uc900\ubc95 \uc81c46\uc870 \uc81c1\ud56d\uc5d0 \uc758\ud55c \uc6d0\uace0\ub4e4\uc758 \ud734\uc5c5\uae09\uc5ec\uccad\uad6c\ub294 \ubc1b\uc544\ub4e4\uc77c \uc218 \uc5c6\uc74c.**\n#### \uad00\ub828 \ud310\ub840 \ubc0f \ubc95\ub839\n- \ub300\ubc95\uc6d0 2009. 9. 10. \uc120\uace0 2007\ub45010440 \ud310\uacb0\n- \ub300\ubc95\uc6d0 2018. 4. 12. \uc120\uace0 2015\ub2e424843 \ud310\uacb0\n- \uadfc\ub85c\uae30\uc900\ubc95 \uc81c23\uc870 \uc81c1\ud56d: \"\uc0ac\uc6a9\uc790\ub294 \uadfc\ub85c\uc790\uc5d0\uac8c \uc815\ub2f9\ud55c \uc774\uc720 \uc5c6\uc774 \ud574\uace0, \ud734\uc9c1, \uc815\uc9c1, \uac10\ubd09, \uadf8 \ubc16\uc758 \uc9d5\ubc8c\uc744 \ud558\uc9c0 \ubabb\ud55c\ub2e4.\"\n- \uadfc\ub85c\uae30\uc900\ubc95 \uc81c46\uc870 \uc81c1\ud56d: \"\uc0ac\uc6a9\uc790\uc758 \uadc0\ucc45\uc0ac\uc720\ub85c \ud734\uc5c5\ud558\ub294 \uacbd\uc6b0\uc5d0 \uc0ac\uc6a9\uc790\ub294 \ud734\uc5c5\uae30\uac04 \ub3d9\uc548 \uadf8 \uadfc\ub85c\uc790\uc5d0\uac8c \ud3c9\uade0\uc784\uae08\uc758 100\ubd84\uc758 70 \uc774\uc0c1\uc758 \uc218\ub2f9\uc744 \uc9c0\uae09\ud558\uc5ec\uc57c \ud55c\ub2e4.\"\n## \uac80\ud1a0\n- \ubcf8 \ud310\uacb0\uc740 \ucf54\ub85c\ub09819 \ud32c\ub370\ubbf9\uacfc \uac19\uc740 \uc608\uce21 \ubd88\uac00\ub2a5\ud55c \uc678\ubd80 \uc694\uc778\uc73c\ub85c \uc778\ud55c \uacbd\uc601 \uc704\uae30 \uc2dc \uae30\uc5c5\uc758 \ud734\uc5c5\uc774 \ubd88\uac00\ud56d\ub825\uc801\uc778 \uacbd\uc601\uc7a5\uc560\ub85c \uc778\uc815\ub420 \uc218 \uc788\uc74c\uc744 \ubcf4\uc5ec\uc90c.\n- \ud2b9\ud788, \uae30\uc5c5\uc774 \uacbd\uc601 \uc815\uc0c1\ud654\ub97c \uc704\ud574 \ub2e4\uac01\uc801\uc778 \ub178\ub825\uc744 \uae30\uc6b8\uc600\uace0, \uadfc\ub85c\uc790 \ub300\ud45c\uc640\uc758 \ud611\uc758\ub97c \ud1b5\ud574 \uc778\uc704\uc801\uc778 \uad6c\uc870\uc870\uc815\uc744 \ud53c\ud558\ub824 \ud55c \uc810 \ub4f1\uc774 \uadc0\ucc45\uc0ac\uc720 \uc5c6\uc74c\uc744 \uc778\uc815\ud558\ub294 \uc911\uc694\ud55c \uadfc\uac70\uac00 \ub418\uc5c8\uc74c.\n- \uc774\ub294 \ubd88\uac00\ud56d\ub825\uc801 \uc0ac\uc720\ub85c \uc778\ud55c \ud734\uc5c5\uc758 \uacbd\uc6b0 \uc0ac\uc6a9\uc790\uc758 \uadc0\ucc45\uc0ac\uc720\ub97c \ud3ed\ub113\uac8c \ud574\uc11d\ud558\uc9c0 \uc54a\uace0, \uae30\uc5c5\uc758 \uc790\uad6c \ub178\ub825\uacfc \uc808\ucc28\uc801 \uc815\ub2f9\uc131\uc744 \uc911\uc694\ud558\uac8c \uace0\ub824\ud55c\ub2e4\ub294 \uc810\uc744 \uc2dc\uc0ac\ud568.\n- \ub2e4\ub9cc, \uadfc\ub85c\uc790 \ub3d9\uc758 \uc5c6\uc774 \uc774\ub8e8\uc5b4\uc9c4 \ubb34\uae09\ud734\uc9c1\uc774\ub77c \ud560\uc9c0\ub77c\ub3c4, \uae30\uc5c5\uc758 \uc0dd\uc874\uc744 \uc704\ud55c \ubd88\uac00\ud53c\ud55c \uc870\uce58\uc600\uc74c\uc774 \uc785\uc99d\ub418\uba74 \ud734\uc5c5\uc218\ub2f9 \uc9c0\uae09 \uc758\ubb34\uac00 \ubc1c\uc0dd\ud558\uc9c0 \uc54a\uc744 \uc218 \uc788\uc74c\uc744 \uba85\ud655\ud788 \ud568."}
- 근로자들의 주장은 회사의 경영위기가 면세점 등 무리한 투자 때문이라고 주장하나, 면세점 등 사업 부진 역시 팬데믹의 영향임을 부인할 수 없으므로 받아들일 수 없음.
- 종합적으로 볼 때, 근로자들에 대한 3개월 무급휴직 기간 동안의 회사의 휴업은 회사의 세력범위 밖에서 발생한 불가항력적인 경영장애로 인한 것으로 회사에게 귀책사유가 있었다고 보기 어려움.
- 따라서 회사의 무급휴직 처분은 사용자의 정당한 인사권 범위 내에서 행해진 적법한 처분이며, 사용자에게 귀책사유가 있는 휴업임을 전제로 하는 근로기준법 제46조 제1항에 의한 근로자들의 휴업급여청구는 받아들일 수 없음.
관련 판례 및 법령
- 대법원 2009. 9. 10. 선고 2007두10440 판결
- 대법원 2018. 4. 12. 선고 2015다24843 판결
- 근로기준법 제23조 제1항: "사용자는 근로자에게 정당한 이유 없이 해고, 휴직, 정직, 감봉, 그 밖의 징벌을 하지 못한다."
- 근로기준법 제46조 제1항: "사용자의 귀책사유로 휴업하는 경우에 사용자는 휴업기간 동안 그 근로자에게 평균임금의 100분의 70 이상의 수당을 지급하여야 한다."
검토
- 본 판결은 코로나19 팬데믹과 같은 예측 불가능한 외부 요인으로 인한 경영 위기 시 기업의 휴업이 불가항력적인 경영장애로 인정될 수 있음을 보여줌.
- 특히, 기업이 경영 정상화를 위해 다각적인 노력을 기울였고, 근로자 대표와의 협의를 통해 인위적인 구조조정을 피하려 한 점 등이 귀책