Dental nurse wins £25,000 in court after co-worker ‘rolled her eyes at her’

A dental nurse has been awarded £25,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal found she was subjected to “rude, isolating, bullying and belittling” behaviour by a colleague at an Edinburgh clinic in Scotland.

The case involved 64-year-old Maureen Howieson, who had worked in dentistry for more than four decades. The tribunal heard that her working relationship with fellow employee Jisna Iqbal at Great Junction Dental Practice had become “strained,” with Iqbal accusing of rolling her eyes when Howieson spoke and repeatedly ignoring her.

Howieson, who had been moved to reception duties due to arthritis, said the situation left her feeling undermined and disrespected. In September 2024, she was reduced to tears at work and later suffered a panic attack after the clinic failed to act on her concerns. She told colleagues she felt “reduced to being a cleaner” and described the workplace atmosphere as hostile.

Despite assurances that the issue would be addressed, no action was taken. The tensions escalated when Iqbal allegedly refused to leave the reception area during one of Howieson’s shifts, further heightening the pressure. The final breaking point came when Howieson was incorrectly underpaid in October, prompting her resignation.

The tribunal, led by Judge Ronald Mackay, found that the dental clinic had failed to adequately address her complaints. Mackay described the lack of action as an “unacceptable omission” and said the assurances given to Howieson “were not kept, leading to an ongoing hostile working environment.”

The ruling concluded that Iqbal’s behaviour breached workplace standards and that management’s inaction contributed directly to Howieson’s distress, resulting in the award of £25,000 in compensation.

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