Dismissal Over Sports Shoes Leads To Rs. 30 Lakh Compensation

A London-based firm has got a legal blow after dismissal of an employee for failure to adhere to its dress code. The employment tribunal upheld the dismissed worker's claim and ordered the company to pay her £30,000 (approximately Rs. 32.2 lakh).

Case Background

Elizabeth Benassi joined Maximus UK Services in 2022. She was discharged two weeks after induction due to her shoes, which the organization described as sports shoes and were contrary to its dress code.

Benassi contended that she was never informed of the organizational dress code policy, neither was she made sure that she was informed by one of the managers before being faced for the infraction.

Tribunal Judgment

Maximus UK Services defended such a decision, stating it was justified and in pursuance of the company policy. The tribunal, on the other hand, relied upon Benassi, on the grounds that she just joined the job and never had proper communication about a dress code.

The verdict from the tribunal was the following:

"As a fresh employee, she might not have known about the dress code. Not to provide an opportunity to rectify the mistake while dismissing her is not just. "

The tribunal awarded Benassi a compensation of Rs. 32 lakh while again stating that fair treatment in policies of workplaces is crucial.