A 20-year-old woman, Elizabeth Benassi, was awarded £30,000 (approximately Rs 32.2 lakh) in compensation after being dismissed from her job at Maximus UK Services for wearing trainers to work. Benassi, who started working at the recruitment agency in 2022 at the age of 18, argued that her choice of footwear was unfairly criticized, especially since other colleagues were seen wearing similar shoes without facing any consequences.
Benassi’s case was brought before an employment tribunal in Croydon, South London, which ruled in her favour. The tribunal determined that the company had shown a “desire to find fault” with the young employee and had failed to inform her about its dress code policy. The tribunal also highlighted the lack of clarity provided to Benassi, who was only employed for three months.
Benassi stated that her manager singled her out and treated her “like a child,” criticizing her trainers, while most of her colleagues in their twenties wore similar footwear without issue. She claimed that she faced excessive scrutiny and micromanagement due to her age, being the youngest employee.
Employment Judge Forwell emphasized that Benassi was unfairly confronted about her shoes on her first day 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, stating that such information would likely have been included in email communications at the time of her hiring.
Although Maximus UK Services denied any wrongdoing, the tribunal found the company guilty of victimisation and awarded Benassi £29,187 in compensation. However, her additional claim of age-related harassment was dismissed.
This case has sparked debates on the treatment of younger workers and the possibility of age-based discrimination. The ruling underscores the importance of clear communication of workplace policies and ensuring fair treatment of new employees.