Rejecting the mother's appeal that the sentence had been "discriminatory", the judge said "the disciplinarily relevant facts contested by the employer have been fully confirmed".
The judge said that the mother’s actions broke the bond of trust between employer and employee.
39-year-old Marica Ricutti was unable to keep working her shifts when the hours of her workplace were suddenly changed.
After explaining her home situation to IKEA, the multinational furniture company allegedly “refused to listen” and Ricutti decided to keep working her previous hours.
She was fired, despite having worked for IKEA in Corsico for 17 years.
Since being sacked one year ago, Ricutti has been shown solidarity and support from a community of people outraged on her behalf.
In particular, Italy’s biggest and most left-wing workers’ union CGIL appealed the case.
In response to Monday’s ruling, Filcams CGIL chief Marco Beretta has said that the unions are "dumbfounded".
"We will go forward in our legal battle," he said, "because in this case the interests of a multinational were safeguarded, placing them ahead of the needs of a worker".
The Filcams CGIL chief said the case was one of "gender discrimination".
