Victim of workplace ‘eye-rolling’ wins £25,000 for bullying

The judgment suggests employers can be held liable for damages over persistent eye rollingImage Credit: Getty via The Sun

A 64-year-old Scottish dental nurse has been awarded £25,254 after enduring prolonged workplace bullying at a dental practice in Edinburgh. Maureen Howieson repeated faced eye-rolling, being ignored and other belittling behavior from a colleague, Jisna Iqbal, the tribunal heard .

The tribunal made clear that even seemingly small non-verbal actions like rolling eyes can count as harassment and contribute to a hostile work environment. The conflict began when Iqbal, a newly hired dental therapist not yet qualified to practice in the UK, took over Howieson’s receptionist duties without consulting her.

Howieson told the tribunal she felt sidelined and distressed as tensions grew, but the practice failed to address her complaints. The ongoing stress led to panic attacks and, eventually, her resignation following a dispute over pay.

Employment Judge Ronald Mackay ruled that the practice’s inaction amounted to multiple breaches of contract and unfair constructive dismissal. The case serves as a reminder that employers have a legal duty to manage workplace behaviour and protect staff from even subtle forms of bullying because non-verbal harassment can carry very real consequences for both employees’ well-being and an employer’s legal standing.

Reference The Times. (2025, September 2). Victim of workplace ‘eye-rolling’ wins £25,000 for bullying. The Times. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/victim-of-workplace-eye-rolling-wins-25000-for-bullying-dzsmd7vv6

Further Reading The Sun. (2025, September 2). Spot the bully: Repeating common facial expression is ‘rude and belittling’ and can be workplace bullying, tribunal rules. The Sun. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/36497507/rolling-eyes-workplace-bullying-tribunal/