A dental nurse has been awarded £25,000 after an employment tribunal ruled she experienced bullying and belittling from a colleague at an Edinburgh dental clinic.

The case involved 64-year-old Maureen Howieson, who has over 40 years of experience in dentistry.

The tribunal heard that her relationship with co-worker Jisna Iqbal became tense, with Iqbal reportedly rolling her eyes when Howieson spoke and often ignoring her.

Howieson, who had recently been moved to reception duties because of arthritis, said the treatment made her feel disrespected and undervalued.

In September 2024, the situation left her in tears at work and later caused a panic attack, as the clinic did not respond to her complaints. She told colleagues she felt “reduced to being a cleaner” and described the workplace as hostile.

Despite promises to address the issue, the clinic took no real action. Tensions worsened when Iqbal allegedly refused to leave the reception area during one of Howieson’s shifts.

The situation reached a breaking point in October when Howieson was underpaid, prompting her resignation.

Judge Ronald Mackay, leading the tribunal, said the clinic failed to properly address Howieson’s complaints.

He described the lack of action as “unacceptable” and noted that the assurances given to her were ignored, creating a hostile work environment.

The ruling concluded that Iqbal’s behaviour violated workplace standards, and the management’s failure to act directly contributed to Howieson’s distress. This led to the £25,000 compensation award.