In a significant victory for employment rights, a 20-year-old woman from the UK was awarded £30,000 (approximately Rs 32.2 lakh) in compensation after being unfairly dismissed for wearing sports shoes to work. Elizabeth Benassi, who had been employed at Maximus UK Services, a recruitment agency, was terminated after just three months on the job for violating the company’s dress code. However, Benassi claimed she was unfairly targeted and that other colleagues had worn similar footwear without facing consequences.
The incident took place in 2022 when Benassi, then 18, was hired by the company. During an employment tribunal in Croydon, south London, Benassi explained that she had not been made aware of any strict dress code at the time of her hiring. She stated that she was treated unfairly by her manager, who criticised her choice of trainers, despite other colleagues wearing similar shoes without issue.
The tribunal agreed with Benassi’s claims, determining that the company had demonstrated a “desire to find fault” with her. The tribunal found that the treatment she received was unjust, especially considering she was the youngest employee at the company and had only recently joined. The tribunal also highlighted that Benassi was being “micromanaged” due to her age and inexperience.
Maximus UK Services, which provides services to the Department for Work and Pensions, denied any wrongdoing, but the tribunal ruled in her favour, awarding her £29,187 (Rs 30.4 lakh) in compensation for victimisation. The case raised concerns about age-based discrimination and how young workers are treated in the workplace.
The tribunal also noted that the recruitment agency had not made any allowance for Benassi being new to the job and potentially unaware of the dress code. Employment Judge Forwell, who presided over the case, stated, “No allowance was made for the fact that she was new and may not have been familiar with the dress code. It was therefore a clear unfairness and indicates a desire to find fault.”
However, the tribunal dismissed Benassi’s claim of age-related harassment. Despite this, the decision has drawn attention to issues of workplace fairness, particularly when it comes to the treatment of young employees.
Sources By Agencies