An 18-year-old employee filed a lawsuit against her ex-employer in London after being dismissed for wearing trainers at work. She claimed that other employees who also wore trainers were not questioned or called out. The court found the employer’s behavior victimizing and awarded the teenager sacked for wearing trainers approximately £30,000 in compensation.

Elizabeth Benassi, who was sacked for wearing trainers, sued Maximus UK Services Limited for harassment based on age and victimization.

Benassi was 18 years old when she joined Maximus UK Services Limited in Greenwich on August 15, 2022. The company, which works for the Department of Work and Pensions, helps people on benefits re-enter the workforce. Benassi was hired as an employment adviser.

Just over a month into her new workplace, Benassi felt singled out and victimized. On September 26, 2022, being new and unaware of the company’s dress code, she came to work wearing trainers. This did not sit well with her manager, Ishrat Ashraf, who reprimanded her. Benassi apologized but later complained in an email to Ashraf, expressing her dissatisfaction with the treatment.

According to the complaint, Benassi was unaware of the dress code and felt she was treated like a child (Ashraf rolled her eyes when Benassi apologized). She pointed out that other employees also wore trainers the same day and were not reprimanded.

The complaint, sent via email, was reviewed by Operations Manager Abdul Ali, who rebuked Benassi for not adhering to the professional dress code but did not address the double standard she faced.

A month after the altercation, on October 31, 2022, Benassi was dismissed from her position.
She took the matter to an employment tribunal, accusing Maximus UK Services Limited of victimization and harassment on the grounds of age.

The Croydon Employment Tribunal upheld the charge of victimization against Maximus UK Services Limited.

During the hearing, held between 1 and 4 July 2024, at Croydon, London, other incidents of harassment were presented to the court.
On the day Benassi was reprimanded for wearing trainers, two of her colleagues, Daniel and Louise, reported to Ashraf that Benassi had embarrassed them by asking for permission to use the toilet in front of a client.

The report indicated that Benassi felt overly monitored, which compelled her to seek permission for basic needs, such as using the toilet. The court found it concerning that her colleagues felt free to report such a trivial matter in a negative light.

Another notable incident occurred when Ashraf deliberately disclosed Benassi’s age to other employees during a team-building event. Benassi was concerned that revealing her age might lead to her not being taken seriously and had requested Ashraf not to disclose it.
At the trial, the ex-employer defended by claiming Benassi was dismissed due to poor performance. They argued that her probationary period had ended, and after a review, she was let go.

Regarding the accusation of not reprimanding other employees for wearing trainers, the company stated that one employee had been granted permission due to a sore foot.

Employment Judge Eoin Fowell found the company’s defense unsatisfactory. If the sore foot excuse were valid, Ashraf would have clarified this in response to Benassi’s email complaint about Ashraf’s double standards. However, no such clarification was made from the manager’s side.

The judge found the treatment unfair. There was no consideration from the employers for Benassi being a new recruit and unfamiliar with the dress code. It appeared Ashraf made deliberate efforts to find fault with her.

In conclusion, the tribunal upheld Benassi’s claim of victimization against her employer but dismissed her charges of harassment on the grounds of age.

In a later hearing, Benassi was awarded £29,187 in compensation for the unfair treatment and the distress it caused her.