A dental nurse in Edinburgh has been awarded £25,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled she was subjected to rude treatment by a colleague at Great Junction Dental Practice.
The case concerned 64-year-old Maureen Howieson, who had worked in dentistry for more than 40 years.
The tribunal heard that her relationship with colleague Jisna Iqbal had deteriorated, with Iqbal accused of rolling her eyes, ignoring her, and contributing to a hostile workplace.
Howieson, reassigned to reception duties because of arthritis, said she often felt undermined and disrespected.
In September 2024, she broke down in tears at work and later experienced a panic attack after management failed to respond to her complaints. She told colleagues she felt “reduced to being a cleaner” amid the toxic environment.
Despite assurances from the practice that her concerns would be addressed, no action was taken.
Tensions escalated when Iqbal allegedly refused to leave the reception area during one of Howieson’s shifts. Matters worsened in October when Howieson was underpaid, prompting her resignation.
Judge Ronald Mackay, who chaired the tribunal, said the practice’s failure to act was an “unacceptable omission” and had prolonged the hostile working environment.
The ruling held that Iqbal’s conduct breached workplace standards and that management’s inaction directly caused Howieson’s distress, resulting in the £25,000 compensation award.