Fired Over Sneakers, Young UK Employee Wins ₹32 Lakh Compensation

 

A 20-year-old UK woman, Elizabeth Benassi, was awarded £30,000 (₹32.2 lakh) in compensation after being fired for wearing trainers at work. Benassi, who joined Maximus UK Services in 2022 as an 18-year-old, claimed she was unaware of any formal dress code and felt unfairly targeted, especially since other colleagues wore similar shoes without issue.

 

The Croydon employment tribunal sided with Benassi, stating that her manager seemed determined to find faults with her performance. It highlighted that she was treated unfairly and micromanaged, possibly due to her being the youngest employee at the agency.

 

Benassi had been employed for just three months when her dismissal occurred. While Maximus UK Services denied the accusations, the tribunal ruled that the company’s actions amounted to victimisation, awarding Benassi £29,187 as compensation.

 

Employment Judge Forwell noted that the incident reflected clear unfairness and a lack of understanding towards a new employee. Though her claim of age-related harassment was dismissed, the case has sparked concerns over workplace treatment of young employees.