In a landmark case of workers’ rights in the United Kingdom, a woman has won a staggering ₹28 lakh (approx. £27,000) in compensation after being unfairly fired on her day off—and in a twist, she gets to keep her job.

The woman, whose identity has been kept confidential, worked for a logistics firm where tensions had allegedly been brewing between her and her manager. According to tribunal documents, she was unexpectedly removed from the employee roster after she declined to come in on a scheduled rest day, citing prior obligations. The firing, which occurred over a curt email, sparked immediate backlash and eventually led to legal action.

The UK employment tribunal ruled that the dismissal violated basic workplace fairness and procedural conduct. The judge noted that “terminating an employee on a day they are not contractually obliged to work—without a disciplinary process or valid warning—is not just unlawful, it’s oppressive.” The decision emphasized the importance of procedural justice and employer accountability.

What makes this case more unusual is the outcome: not only was the woman awarded compensation for emotional distress and loss of earnings, but she will also return to her original post. Legal experts suggest that this combination is rare, as most unfair dismissal cases result in severance without reinstatement.

The verdict has reignited conversation about employee protections, particularly for low- to mid-level workers in the private sector. Trade unions hailed the case as a “major victory for fair treatment,” urging others to challenge arbitrary terminations.

Social media users rallied in support of the woman, with one tweet reading, “Fired for not working on your off day, wins ₹28 lakh, AND still keeps the job? That’s the karma story of the year.”

The case is now being cited by HR professionals and legal experts as a precedent for reinforcing boundaries between personal time and workplace obligations—especially in a post-pandemic era where work-life balance is being redefined.