UK woman gets fired for wearing sports shoes at work, wins Rs 32 lakh compensation

Employment Judge Forwell noted that Elizabeth Benassi was unfairly confronted about her footwear upon arriving at the office.

A 20-year-old woman was awarded £30,000 (approximately Rs 32.2 lakh) in compensation after being dismissed from her role at a recruiting agency for wearing trainers to work. Elizabeth Benassi, who began working at Maximus UK Services in 2022 at the age of 18, claimed she was unfairly targeted for her choice of footwear, despite other colleagues wearing similar shoes without repercussions.

Benassi’s case was heard at an employment tribunal in Croydon, south London, which ruled in her favour. The tribunal found that the company displayed a “desire to find fault” with the young employee and had failed to inform her about its dress code policy.

Benassi, employed for just three months, argued that she was singled out and treated “like a child” by her manager, who criticised her trainers. She told the tribunal that most of her colleagues were in their twenties, but as the youngest employee, she was subjected to excessive scrutiny and “micromanagement” because of her age.

Employment Judge Forwell noted that Benassi was unfairly confronted about her footwear upon arriving at the office. “No allowance was made for the fact that she was new and may not have been familiar with the dress code,” the judge said. “It was therefore a clear unfairness and indicates a desire to find fault.”

The tribunal also rejected the agency’s claim that Benassi had been made aware of the dress code policy. Judge Forwell pointed out that had such information been provided, it would likely have been mentioned in an email exchange at the time.

Maximus UK Services, a company that provides recruitment services for the Department for Work and Pensions, denied any wrongdoing. However, the tribunal found the company guilty of victimisation and awarded Benassi £29,187 in compensation.

While the tribunal sided with Benassi on the issue of victimisation, her additional claim of age-related harassment was dismissed.

The case has sparked discussions about the treatment of young workers in the workplace and the potential for age-based discrimination. The tribunal’s ruling underscores the importance of clear communication around workplace policies, as well as the need for fair treatment of new employees.