An NHS nurse has received £41,000 after alleging she was bullied by her colleague during her employment at St Helier Hospital, Sutton, London. Susan Hamilton, who specializes in diabetes care, accused dietitian Abdool Nayeck of excluding her from team interactions, including the notorious tea rounds, which she argued was emblematic of a broader pattern of dismissive behavior.
The conflict began back in 2018 when Hamilton questioned Nayeck's competency following disagreements over the treatment of patients. According to Hamilton, this seemingly small interaction ignited two years of bullying behavior, resulting in her feeling isolated from the team she had worked closely with.
Hamilton's grievances included Nayeck allegedly refusing to even make tea for her, which he routinely did for other colleagues, and ignoring her greetings. "The only change after mediation was he made tea for no one," Hamilton revealed, capturing the essence of her experience where even the shared rituals of the workplace became sites of exclusion.
During mediation sessions organized by their employers to resolve their relationship, Nayeck was reported to have bluntly stated, "I don’t like you," which only reinforced the difficulties Hamilton was experiencing. Despite agreeing to communicate civilly during formal intervention from the NHS Trust, things did not improve—despite both parties signing agreements to be polite and respectful.
After returning from stress leave, Hamilton lodged formal complaints against Nayeck and the Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust for mishandling her previous concerns. She claimed there was years of targeting and intimidation which compounded her stress levels significantly, leading to her eventual resignation.
Hamilton’s complaints included accusations of bullying and even theft of personal property from her workplace. She alleged this contributed to “a total breakdown of trust and confidence” leading to her departure. The tribunal heard how Hamilton loved her job and was immensely distressed to find herself in such hostile circumstances.
When the tribunal reviewed the case, Employment Judge Kathryn Ramsden criticized the NHS Trust for failing to take adequate action over Nayeck’s behavior. She noted, "The Trust had failed to take adequate action, over several years, to address Nayeck's behavior, including when Hamilton was made unwell due to the stress caused by it." This statement highlighted the systemic failures within the Trust to uphold a supportive workplace culture.
The tribunal's findings underscored the necessity for swift and effective actions to address workplace bullying and maintain respect within staff interactions. Hamilton’s win has sparked discussions around workplace well-being and the obligation of employers to protect their workforce from harassment and bullying.
Following the ruling, Hamilton expressed relief and satisfaction with the outcome, even as it served as bittersweet closure to events spanning several challenging years. She now hopes her case will encourage others facing similar struggles to speak out.
The tribunal’s £41,000 compensation serves not just as financial redress for Hamilton but as a pressing reminder for institutions like the NHS to critically assess their internal policies and mechanisms for preventing harassment and ensuring constructive workplaces.