Nurse Who Was Bullied At Work, By Coworker With Tea, Gets $51K (£41K)

Image Source: The Independent

When it comes to workplace bullying, the NHS just learned a valuable lesson with a dispute so hot it could burn your tongue. Meet Susan Hamilton, a hardworking nurse who was awarded £41,000 (approximately, $51,672 USD) in compensation after being bullied by her colleague, Abdool Nayeck, a dietician at St. Helier Hospital in Sutton, south London.

So what kicked off this scandal? Tea. 🫖 Yes, actual tea. 🍵

Tea-Time Bullying

In 2018, Hamilton raised concerns about Nayeck’s handling of a patient’s care. Rather than addressing the issue constructively, Nayeck allegedly began ignoring her during meetings and stopped making tea for her, despite continuing the practice for other team members. This marked the beginning of a strained and difficult working relationship.

But the situation gets pettier! Not only did he stop making tea for her, but when the hospital tried to mediate the situation, Nayeck reportedly dug his heels in with a bold, "I don’t like you."

Stress, Mediation, and a Total Tea Embargo

Hamilton, a diabetes specialist nurse since 2012, was drowning in stress thanks to the ongoing workplace tensions. By 2019, things got so bad she had to take time off work. When she returned in 2021, mediation efforts were attempted, and both were advised to keep things polite and civil.

Did that fix everything? Not even close.

Nayeck, perhaps doubling down on his tea-time revenge, stopped making tea for the entire team. That’s right—he went from selective exclusion to full-scale tea embargo.

Complaints, Resignation, and the Courtroom Finale

When Hamilton returned to work, she lodged a formal complaint against the hospital, saying they failed to properly address the situation. The stress, lack of trust, and continued workplace tensions eventually pushed her to resign in 2021, citing a “breach of contract” and a “total breakdown of trust and confidence” (The Independent).

At the employment tribunal, Judge Kathryn Ramsden found that the hospital had failed to take adequate action against Nayeck’s behavior. The verdict? Hamilton was awarded £41,000 (approximately, $51,672 USD) in compensation.

The Lesson? Bullying Is Never OK

This case proves that what some might consider a small workplace snub could lead to major legal drama — plus, extreme stress and emotional turmoil for the victim. This case is a stark reminder that toxic work environments come in all forms, passive-aggressive tea wars included, that potentially affect staff well-being.

For healthcare systems everywhere, the takeaway is clear: Take workplace bullying seriously—or risk getting burned.

🤔Have you experienced petty bullying in your workplace? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.