A compensation of nearly £30,000 was granted to an NHS worker who was likened to the iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader in the workplace. The incident occurred when Lorna Rooke’s colleague conducted a Star Wars-themed personality test on her behalf, leading to the conclusion that she belonged to the Darth Vader category. This caused harm and negative impacts on Ms. Rooke, who was employed in a blood donation department, as confirmed by an employment tribunal in Croydon, south London.
The tribunal revealed that the team engaged in a Myers-Briggs questionnaire with a Star Wars twist, assigning each member a Star Wars character based on their personality traits. While Ms. Rooke was absent, a colleague took the test on her behalf, leading to her categorization as Darth Vader. Despite the description of Darth Vader as a focused individual who unites the team, the judge viewed the association as derogatory. Judge Kathryn Ramsden stated that being aligned with Darth Vader’s personality, a notorious villain in the Star Wars series, was considered insulting, especially since the test was completed by another colleague and then shared with the group.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator classifies individuals into 16 categories based on their introversion levels, intuition, decision-making processes, and perception of the world. Ms. Rooke joined the NHS Blood and Transplant service in 2003 as a training and practice supervisor, with this incident being one factor leading to her resignation in 2021. Although she secured compensation for detriment following a protected disclosure, her claims for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, and failure to provide reasonable adjustments were unsuccessful. As a result, she was awarded £28,989.61 in damages.
In light of the distress caused by the Darth Vader comparison, the tribunal’s ruling shed light on the importance of considering the impact of workplace assessments on an individual’s well-being. The case serves as a reminder to employers to conduct such tests with sensitivity and respect towards their employees’ feelings, ensuring a positive and inclusive work environment for all
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