Woman awarded Rs 34 lakhs after colleague calls her ‘Darth Vader'

Indian Express

09-05-2025

A workplace conflict in the United Kingdom took a bizarre twist when a woman received nearly £30,000 (Rs 34 lakh, approximately) in compensation after being likened to Darth Vader during a team-building exercise. The comparison, made during a Star Wars-themed personality quiz, was deemed 'upsetting' by an employment tribunal in London, as reported by The Guardian.
Lorna Rooke, who worked as a training and practice supervisor at the NHS Blood and Transplant department, became the center of controversy in 2021 after the unusual incident. During a staff bonding session, employees were invited to take a quiz designed to match them with characters from the Star Wars universe based on personality traits like introversion and decision-making style.
Rooke, however, didn't participate–she was on a personal call when the activity took place. Despite this, a colleague took it upon themselves to fill out the quiz in her name and then announced to the team that her personality resembled Darth Vader's.
While the quiz attempted to frame the comparison in a positive light, describing Vader as 'a very focused individual' who could contribute to team effectiveness, the broader cultural image of the character – a fearsome enforcer with a history of violence and intimidation – made the remark sting. As the tribunal noted, 'Darth Vader is a legendary villain of the Star Wars series, and being aligned with his personality is insulting.'
Rooke said the comparison damaged her standing among colleagues and contributed to her eventual resignation just weeks later. Although the tribunal didn't recognise the incident as the sole reason for her departure, it did conclude that it constituted a legal 'detriment,' thereby entitling her to compensation.
This unusual case joins a growing number of quirky workplace disputes that have held up in court. In a similarly strange 2022 ruling, a French man successfully sued his employer after being fired for being 'too boring,' with the court agreeing that the company's party culture clashed with his personal rights.
In the Star Wars universe, Darth Vader is a cyborg – part man, part machine – who draws power from the 'dark side of the Force' as he hunts down his son, Luke Skywalker, and battles the Rebel Alliance. The epic storyline also includes iconic characters like Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and the beloved droids C-3PO and R2-D2.