Sacked for footwear: Teenager wins big payout after being dismissed for wearing trainers

A 20-year-old woman in the UK, who was dismissed for wearing trainers to work, has been awarded £30,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled in her favor, as reported by The Metro.

Elizabeth Benassi, a former employee of Maximus UK Services, claimed she was unfairly targeted for her choice of footwear, despite her colleagues wearing similar shoes without issue.

Benassi joined the company in August 2022 as the youngest staff member at Maximus UK Services, a firm that helps people re-enter the workforce and move off benefits, as reported by The Metro. However, her brief employment ended after a manager criticised her trainers, reportedly treating her “like a child.”

Benassi objected to being singled out for wearing sports shoes, especially when many others wore similar footwear. She told the tribunal she was unaware of any formal dress code and argued that her dismissal was an act of victimisation.

The tribunal, held in Croydon, south London, sided with Benassi, stating that the company appeared to have a “desire to find fault” with the young employee.

The Metro quoted Benassi’s email to her senior: “I have now realised I’m not the only one wearing trainers today, and I haven’t seen anyone receive the same treatment that I have.”

After Benassi voiced her concerns, the company’s operations manager stated that her choice of footwear was “unacceptable” and emphasised the need for a professional dress code at all times.

Benassi, who had worked for just three months, claimed she was micromanaged because of her age and criticized for wearing trainers to the office. She was dismissed for not wearing "appropriate office attire" and later filed a legal case alleging age discrimination and victimization.

Employment Judge Forwell, as reported by The Metro, noted the unfairness in her case: “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.”

The ruling raises important questions about workplace discrimination and how young employees are treated. While Maximus UK Services denied wrongdoing, the tribunal's decision emphasized the need for clear and fair communication of policies in the workplace.