A dental nurse has been awarded $31,000 in compensation due to a colleague’s ‘disrespectful’ actions, which included behaviors such as ‘rolling her eyes’ at her.
Maureen Howieson received $31,000 (£25,254) after a tribunal concluded she experienced ‘rude’ and ‘bullying’ behavior at the Great Junction Dental Practice in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Howieson reported having a ‘strained’ interactions with Jisna Iqbal, a dental therapist, starting soon after Iqbal joined the clinic in July last year.
Due to her arthritis, the 64-year-old Howieson, who had four decades of experience, was reassigned to the reception desk.
Iqbal, a dentist qualified in India, was not yet authorized to practice in the UK and had assumed Howieson’s receptionist duties during her medical leave, according to the Metro.
Howieson accused Iqbal of being ‘rude and disrespectful’ while they worked together, claiming she often refused to perform certain tasks and ‘rolled her eyes’ during conversations, as noted by the Daily Mail.
Daniela Siersch, another dentist at the practice, supported Howieson’s claims, highlighting Iqbal’s alleged refusal to perform tasks like cleaning a toilet area before inspection, citing her position as a ‘dentist’.
In September 2024, Howieson reportedly broke down at work, expressing to a colleague that she felt ‘reduced to being a cleaner’.
This prompted a meeting with the clinic’s owner, Dr. Fary Johnson Vithayathil, and shortly after, it was claimed that Iqbal refused to vacate the desk for Howieson to start her afternoon shift.
Dr. Vithayathil acknowledged previous issues with Mrs. Iqbal but did not take action.
After suffering a panic attack due to stress and a wage dispute, Howieson decided to resign from her job.
Iqbal denied the allegations, but the panel concluded that Howieson endured ‘rude, isolating, bullying, and belittling’ behavior from Iqbal.
Employment Judge Ronald Mackay criticized the Great Junction Dental Practice’s failure to address Howieson’s concerns, leading to a ‘hostile working environment’. He highlighted that the employer was aware of the issues but took no action, and the assurances given to her ‘were not kept’.
He further stated that the dental practice was guilty of ‘multiple repudiatory breaches’ of Howieson’s contract, resulting in unfair constructive dismissal (via The Times).
The LADbible Group has sought comments from Jisna Iqbal and the Great Junction Dental Practice.