A 20-year-old woman has been awarded £30,000 (about Rs 32.2 lakh) in compensation after she was fired from her position at a recruitment agency for wearing trainers to work. Elizabeth Benassi, who started her job at Maximus UK Services in 2022 aged 18, argued that she had been unfairly singled out for her choice of footwear, despite other colleagues wearing similar shoes without facing any consequences.
Benassi's case was heard at an employment tribunal in Croydon, south London, which ruled in her favour. The tribunal concluded that the company had an “eagerness to find fault” with the young worker and failed to properly communicate its dress code policy.
Benassi, who had only been on the job for three months, argued that she was unfairly targeted and treated “like a child” by her manager, who criticized her choice of coaches. She explained that many of her colleagues were in their twenties, but as the youngest employee, she faced excessive scrutiny and “micromanagement” due to her age.
Employment Judge Forwell observed that Benassi was unfairly confronted about her footwear when she arrived at the office. “No allowance was made for her being a newbie and unfamiliar with the dress code,” the judge said. “So it was clearly unfair and shows a desire to find fault.”
The tribunal also rejected the agency's claim that Benassi was informed of the dress code policy. Judge Forwell emphasized that if such information had been provided, it would have been mentioned in an email exchange at the time.
Maximus UK Services, a recruitment agency for the Department for Work and Pensions, denied any wrongdoing in the case. However, the tribunal found the company guilty of being a victim and awarded Benassi £29,187 in compensation.
While the tribunal ruled in Benassi's favor on the victimization claim, it dismissed her additional allegation of age-related harassment.
The case has sparked widespread debate about the treatment of young workers in the workplace and the potential for age discrimination. The Tribunal's decision emphasizes the importance of clear communication regarding workplace policies and the need to treat new employees fairly and respectfully.