A dental nurse in the U.K. was awarded $31,000 after an employment panel found that the alleged eye rolling directed at her from the dental therapist she worked with was considered bullying, according to multiple recently published news stories.
Maureen Howieson was awarded compensation after the panel found that Jisna Iqpal, her co-worker at Great Junction Dental Practice in Edinburgh, Scotland, subjected her to rude and belittling behavior, such as rolling her eyes, causing a hostile work environment.
Howieson, 64, who was transitioned to work at the practice’s reception area due to her arthritis in July 2024, claimed her strained relationship with Iqbal, a dental therapist, began almost immediately. Though a qualified dentist in India, Iqbal was ineligible to practice in the U.K. and had taken on Howieson’s receptionist duties while she was away on sick leave, according to the stories.
While working in the reception area together, Howieson claimed Iqbal was rude to her and rolled her eyes when speaking to her and refused to do specific duties. A dentist at the practice supported Howieson’s claims, including that Iqbal allegedly refused to clean the bathroom because she was a dentist.
At times, Howieson claimed, the work situation brought her to tears and eventually resulted in a meeting with practice owner Dr. Fary Johnson Vithayathil. The practice owner claimed there had been issues with Iqbal in the past, including one time when she refused to leave the reception area so Howieson could start her shift, according to the stories.
After Howieson experienced a panic attack brought on by stress, as well as a dispute over unpaid wages, she resigned from her job.
During a recent hearing, an employment judge determined that Iqbal subjected Howieson to bullying and isolating behavior. However, Iqbal denied any wrongdoing. Furthermore, the judge found that Howieson’s employer knew about the belittling behavior by Iqbal but did nothing to stop it, according to the stories.
