Elizabeth Benassi, the former employee of Maximus UK Services who was awarded the compensation | LinkedIn
Dress code is something people adhere to, in most cases. Dress code at a workplace however, can be a more serious thing. But firing an employee because of dress code violation? Well that needs some looking into.
An employment tribunal in the UK did just that and awarded a whopping £30,000 (Rs 32,20,818) to a 20-year-old who was fired by her employer for wearing sports shoes to work.
The Metro has reported that Elizabeth Benassi, the former employee who got awarded the compensation was employed by Maximus UK Services in 2022. The company provides services to UK government’s Department for Work and Pensions.
Benassi, who was 18-years-old when she was employee of the firm, was fired from the company in just three months.
She reportedly told the tribunal a manager took exception to her choice of footwear but she said she was treated “like a child”.
Benassi further said that most of her co-workers were in twenties and they wore similar footware to work but they suffered no repercussions. Hence, she said, she felt targeted and singled out. She also said she thought she was being ‘micromanaged’.
The employment tribunal, in a hearing held in Croydon, London sided with Benassi and opined that the company showed “desire to find fault” while dealing with Benassi.
“No allowance was made for the fact that she was new and may not have been familiar with the dress code. It was therefore a clear unfairness and indicates a desire to find fault.” said Employment Judge Forwell as quoted by Metro.
Maximus UK Services tried to defend itself over other employees wearing sports shoes. The company claimed that other staff members were not told anything over their sports shoes because one of them had ‘sore foot’.
But the tribunal disagreed.
“Had that been the case, Ms Ashraf [the manager] would no doubt have mentioned it at the time in her email in response. So, Ms Benassi was immediately and unfairly tackled about this on arrival at the office,” the tribunal said.
