The Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei was ordered by the Taipei District Court to pay NT$16,000 (S$668.31) to a male employee and not to sack him after the employee claimed that he was unfairly fired for cross-dressing.
An engineer surnamed Chou working at the information technology department told the court that he started dressing like a woman in September 2010 on the advice of psychologists.
However, Chou said he was soon transferred to another department handling general affairs and his employment was terminated by the hospital at the end of the same year.
Chou took his case to the Taipei City Government which determined that Mackay had violated existing regulations which safeguard gender equality at the workplace.
The rules prohibit discrimination against employees based on factors like gender and sexual orientation.
He then filed a civil suit against Mackay at the district court and sought payment of more than NT$360,000 from the hospital. The figure included compensation for his performance-linked bonus, for working during the Christmas holidays and for the mental anguish inflicted on him due to the discrimination he experienced.
Administrators at Mackay claim that Chou was assigned to a new position mainly because he frequented women's toilets, and his behaviour caused annoyance to his colleagues and patients at the hospital.
They eventually decided to fire him on the grounds that he persistently left his work post and failed to perform his duties.
Chou was fired for frequent absence without leave, but not because of his sexual orientation, they explained.
After reviewing the case, the court ruled that the employment of Chou at the hospital remains valid, meaning Chou can return to work at Mackay if he wishes.
The court also ordered Mackay to pay Chou NT$16,000 for his work performance and work during the Christmas holidays.
But the judge did not mention Chou's decision to seek for psychological compensation.
Mackay is still eligible to take the case to the Taiwan High Court for a new trial.
Though the hospital has yet to decide whether or not it will file an appeal against the district court's ruling.
An engineer surnamed Chou working at the information technology department told the court that he started dressing like a woman in September 2010 on the advice of psychologists.
However, Chou said he was soon transferred to another department handling general affairs and his employment was terminated by the hospital at the end of the same year.
Chou took his case to the Taipei City Government which determined that Mackay had violated existing regulations which safeguard gender equality at the workplace.
The rules prohibit discrimination against employees based on factors like gender and sexual orientation.
He then filed a civil suit against Mackay at the district court and sought payment of more than NT$360,000 from the hospital. The figure included compensation for his performance-linked bonus, for working during the Christmas holidays and for the mental anguish inflicted on him due to the discrimination he experienced.
Administrators at Mackay claim that Chou was assigned to a new position mainly because he frequented women's toilets, and his behaviour caused annoyance to his colleagues and patients at the hospital.
They eventually decided to fire him on the grounds that he persistently left his work post and failed to perform his duties.
Chou was fired for frequent absence without leave, but not because of his sexual orientation, they explained.
After reviewing the case, the court ruled that the employment of Chou at the hospital remains valid, meaning Chou can return to work at Mackay if he wishes.
The court also ordered Mackay to pay Chou NT$16,000 for his work performance and work during the Christmas holidays.
But the judge did not mention Chou's decision to seek for psychological compensation.
Mackay is still eligible to take the case to the Taiwan High Court for a new trial.
Though the hospital has yet to decide whether or not it will file an appeal against the district court's ruling.
