NHS worker wins £30,000 compensation after ‘insulting and upsetting' comparison to iconic film character
Scroll down to see what the judge had to say about the comparison
JIBE WORKER'S COMPO NHS worker wins £30,000 compensation after 'insulting and upsetting' comparison to iconic film character
AN NHS worker won almost £30,000 compensation after being likened to Star Wars villain Darth Vader.
A tribunal ruled the comparison is 'insulting and upsetting', despite being told the evil Sith Lord had 'positive attributes'.
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An NHS worker has won almost £30,000 in compensation after being likened to Star Wars villain Darth Vader
Credit: Alamy
It came after NHS blood donation supervisor Lorna Rooke and her colleagues took a Star Wars-themed questionnaire as part of a team-bonding exercise in 2021.
Mrs Rooke had to take a phone call so a colleague filled it out for her.
She returned to find her personality type was deemed the same as murderous Vader, who was feared and despised throughout the galaxy.
The supervisor told the hearing in Croydon, South London, it made her feel 'unpopular' and was one of the reasons she left the next month.
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Claims that Vader — real name Anakin Skywalker — was a 'very focused individual' who can bring a team together were rejected.
Employment Judge Kathryn Ramsden said 'being aligned with his personality is insulting', and it was 'little wonder' she was upset.
However the tribunal found that Mrs Rooke's decision to leave was prompted by personal circumstances.
She lost claims for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, and failure to make reasonable adjustments.
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But she won her case for detriment and was awarded £28,989.61.
Darth Vader kicked out of England's Ashes Test vs Australia at Edgbaston as fans joke 'the umpire strikes back'
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