Elizabeth Benassi, 20, was dismissed from Maximus UK Services after only three months for wearing trainers to work, despite claiming other staff members were not penalized for the same breach. The tribunal upheld her claim of victimisation, awarding her £29,187 in compensation.
A teenager who was fired for wearing trainers to work has won almost £30,000 because she was 'unfairly treated' over the issue according to a tribunal. Elizabeth Benassi, now 20, successfully sued her former employer for victimisation because business manager Ishrat Ashraf 'treated her like a child' due to her footwear choice. The young woman was 18 when she worked there and did not understand the company's smart dress code . She said other staff who did the same were not sanctioned.
When she was dismissed from the recruitment company after just three months, Ms Benassi took them to an employment tribunal and her claims have now been upheld by a judge who said bosses had a 'desire to find fault' with her. The tribunal took place in Croydon and Ms Benassi was awarded total compensation of £29,187. She joined Maximus UK Services, which works for the Department of Work and Pensions and helps to get people back into work and off benefits, in August 2022. Allegedly her colleagues were 'a young group of employees', mainly in their early twenties, but she was 'the youngest of all'. She told the tribunal that being the most juvenile 'made life difficult for her' because she was 'excluded from the group' and 'micromanaged'. The panel were told about an 'incident' which occurred on September 26, when Ms Benassi wore trainers to work. Employment Judge Eoin Fowell said: 'This was a breach of the dress code, although she was not aware of it.' Ms Ashraf spoke to her about it straight away and Ms Benassi apologised. The young employment adviser said she was unhappy about the way she had been spoken to and emailed Ms Ashraf to say so. She wrote: 'This morning you mentioned that I am not allowed to wear trainers to work,
Employment Law Dress Code Victimisation Tribunal Compensation
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