Schoolgirl becomes youngest to win discrimination case

Hazel Cassidy, worked in a cafe for two Saturday shifts before she was dismissed, at the age of 14.

She told an employment tribunal in Glasgow that it caused her distress. She was awarded nearly £3,000 in damages after the ET found she was the victim of “direct discrimination”.

In 2019 Hazel took a trial shift at an Equestrian Centre in Ayrshire, owned by the Daimler Foundation. She had indicated her date of birth on her application form. Having performed well on her first day, manager Malcolm Easy said he was pleased with her work but sent her home early during her second shift, saying that she was being fired for “health and safety reasons” as the company’s accountant said she was too young for the job.

The firm later said she had been sacked as the “role was too demanding”. The panel, however, ruled that the company had not proved that age was not a factor in its decision to dismiss Hazel.

Employment judge, Sandy Kemp, said: “it was far more likely that Mr Easy had said something to the effect that Miss Cassidy was too young for the role, and that the accountant had said that it was for health and safety reasons”. He praised Hazel for delivering evidence “clearly, candidly, and calmly”.