A woman was fired for wearing sneakers at work, and received compensation of Rs 32,000

A 20-year-old woman has been awarded compensation of £30,000 (about Rs 32.2 lakh) after she was fired from her position at an employment agency for wearing sneakers to work. Elizabeth Benassi, who started at Maximus UK Services in 2022 when she was 18, said she was unfairly singled out for her choice of footwear, even though other colleagues wore similar shoes without facing any consequences.

Benassi’s case was heard at the Employment Court in Croydon, south London, which ruled in her favour. The court concluded that the company had a “desire to find fault” with the young employee and failed to properly communicate its dress code policy.

After being employed for only three months, Benassi said she was unfairly targeted and treated “like a child” by her manager, who criticized her choice of coaches. She explained that most of her colleagues were in their 20s, but as the youngest employee, she faced excessive scrutiny and “micro-management” because of her age.

Employment Judge Forwell noted that Benassi faced injustice over her shoes when she arrived at the office. “No consideration was given to the fact that she was new and may not have been familiar with the dress code,” the judge said. “It was therefore clearly unfair and indicates a desire to find fault.”

The court also rejected the agency’s claim that Benassi was informed of the dress code policy. Judge Forwell stressed that had such information been provided, it would likely have been mentioned in an email exchange at the time.

Maximus UK Services, an employment agency under the Department for Work and Pensions, has denied any wrongdoing in the case. However, the court found the company guilty of victimization and awarded Benassi £29,187 in compensation.

While the court ruled in favor of Benassi on the victimization claim, it dismissed her additional claim of age-related harassment.

The case sparked widespread debate about how young workers are treated in the workplace and the potential for age discrimination. The court’s ruling highlights the importance of clear communication regarding workplace policies and emphasizes the need for fair and respectful treatment of new employees.