A nurse in South London has won a £41,000 compensation claim after being excluded from workplace tea breaks. Susan Hamilton, a diabetes nurse at St Helier Hospital, accused her colleague, dietitian Abdool Nayeck, of bullying—an issue that led to her resignation and a years-long legal battle. Now, after a court ruling in her favor, the shocking workplace dispute is making headlines. But what really happened between Hamilton and Nayeck? Let’s break down the case!
Nurse Wins £41K Lawsuit After Being Excluded from Tea Breaks
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The conflict between diabetes nurse Susan Hamilton and her dietitian colleague Abdool Nayeck at St Helier Hospital began in 2018.
Hamilton, who had been working as a diabetes specialist nurse at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust since October 2012, frequently treated the same patients as Nayeck starting in September 2017. However, tensions between the two escalated following a disagreement over patient care in 2018, marking the beginning of a long-standing workplace dispute.
During the 2018 disagreement, Nayeck reportedly told Hamilton outright, "I don't like you."
What started as a professional conflict over patient care soon became evident in hospital corridors. Nayeck began displaying visibly dismissive behavior toward Hamilton in front of other nurses, eventually questioning her competence.
The situation worsened when Nayeck deliberately excluded Hamilton from workplace interactions. He would prepare tea for the entire team while deliberately leaving her out, ignored her in meetings, and even looked away when she spoke. The final straw was when he began outright ignoring her greetings while continuing to engage with other colleagues.
As the tensions escalated, the matter was brought to hospital management.
The administration attempted to mediate, urging both parties to remain 'polite' and maintain 'professional communication.' However, instead of improving the situation, Nayeck's response was to stop making tea for anyone.
By 2019, the ongoing workplace hostility had taken a toll on Hamilton's well-being, forcing her to resign due to stress.
However, in January 2021, she returned to the hospital and officially lodged a complaint, citing both Nayeck’s “years of targeted and intimidating behavior” and the hospital management’s failure to take effective action. That same year, she resigned once again and took the case to court.
The court ultimately ruled in Hamilton’s favor, concluding that the hospital trust had "failed to take adequate action against Nayeck’s behavior over several years."
Employment Tribunal Judge Kathryn Ramsden stated, 'The hospital management failed to act appropriately on multiple occasions, even when it became clear that Hamilton’s stress-related illness was a direct consequence of Nayeck’s conduct.'
The ruling highlighted Hamilton’s strong case, describing her as 'a skilled nurse who loved her job but was deeply distressed at being placed in a situation where she could no longer do it.'
As a result, Susan Hamilton was awarded £41,000 in compensation for her prolonged workplace struggles.
With the legal battle behind her, she is now ready to move forward with confidence.