A dental nurse received £25,000 in compensation following an employment tribunal’s ruling that she endured “rude, isolating, bullying and belittling” conduct from a colleague at a dental clinic in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The case centered on 64-year-old Maureen Howieson, a dental professional with over 40 years of experience. The tribunal learned that her relationship with coworker Jisna Iqbal at Great Junction Dental Practice had grown “strained,” with Iqbal reportedly rolling her eyes when Howieson spoke and consistently disregarding her.
Howieson, reassigned to reception duties due to arthritis, expressed that the situation made her feel undermined and disrespected. In September 2024, she was brought to tears at work and subsequently experienced a panic attack after the clinic failed to address her grievances. She confided to colleagues that she felt “reduced to being a cleaner” and described the workplace environment as hostile.
Despite promises that the issue would be resolved, no steps were taken. Tensions heightened when Iqbal allegedly refused to vacate the reception area during one of Howieson’s shifts, increasing the strain. The tipping point occurred when Howieson was mistakenly underpaid in October, leading to her resignation.
The tribunal, chaired by Judge Ronald Mackay, determined that the dental clinic had inadequately handled her complaints. Mackay called the lack of response an “unacceptable omission” and noted that the assurances given to Howieson “were not kept, leading to an ongoing hostile working environment.”
The judgment found that Iqbal’s actions violated workplace standards and that management’s inaction directly contributed to Howieson’s distress, resulting in the £25,000 compensation award.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
