NHS worker awarded £28,000 after being likened to Darth Vader

An NHS worker has been awarded more than £28,000 in compensation after a colleague likened her to Darth Vader during a workplace exercise.

Jennifer Cafferky, Associate Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case.

Lorna Rooke, who worked for NHS Blood and Transplant for nearly two decades, was assigned the Star Wars villain as her personality type when a team-building quiz was completed on her behalf without her knowledge.

The incident occurred during a Myers-Briggs-style exercise in which staff were matched with characters from the Star Wars franchise. While Ms Rooke was out of the room, a colleague filled in the test for her and later shared the results with the rest of the team. She was designated as Darth Vader—a fictional character widely recognised as a symbol of intimidation and control.

Although the Darth Vader type was described in the exercise as a focused individual who brings people together, Employment Judge Ramsden said the character remained a “legendary villain” and concluded that the comparison was “insulting”.

The Employment Tribunal found that this episode was one of several incidents that contributed to Ms Rooke feeling marginalised and undermined at work. She was said to have experienced low mood and anxiety and eventually resigned in October 2021.

However, the main reason the tribunal upheld part of her claim was not the Star Wars reference, but the way she was treated after raising health and safety concerns. These included issues around staff training, the use of personal protective equipment, and the competence of some individuals carrying out clinical procedures.

The tribunal found that Ms Rooke’s disclosures were protected under whistleblowing legislation and that she suffered detriment as a result. After raising these concerns, she was increasingly excluded from key meetings and decision-making and was refused the chance to withdraw her resignation when she reconsidered her position.

Judge Ramsden ruled that this treatment had a serious impact on her well-being and ultimately led to her departure. The Darth Vader incident, while not the sole focus, formed part of a broader workplace culture in which Ms Rooke was made to feel unpopular and isolated.

Ms Rooke was awarded £28,989 in total—comprising £16,989 for financial loss after being denied the chance to rescind her resignation, and £12,000 for injury to feelings linked to the detriments following her protected disclosures.

If you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of employment law, please contact Jennifer on 01228 516666 or click here to send her an email.