In a groundbreaking case, a tribunal in Croydon, south London, has found in favor of the NHS worker. As a result, she was awarded £28,989.61 for experiencing workplace detriment after being likened to the character Darth Vader. The case further brought attention to the toxic workplace culture and how personality assessments like Myers-Briggs can destroy employees’ lives.
In 2003, Rooke took her first step into the NHS Blood and Transplant service as a training and practice supervisor. In August 2021, on one of her new team’s virtual team-building days, she spaced the Star Wars-themed Myers-Briggs test. Instead, she was in the middle of her own private phone conversation. Amanda Harber, another colleague of Rooke, answered the questionnaire on behalf of Rooke. She made an exciting announcement that Rooke is the same personality type as Darth Vader.
Rooke viewed the result of the personality test as a threat to her workplace reputation. The tribunal found that likening an employee to Darth Vader was “derogatory,” “humiliating” and “provocative.” They understood that Darth Vader had to be perceived as a bad guy. Employment judge Kathryn Ramsden stated, “Darth Vader is a legendary villain of the Star Wars series, and being aligned with his personality is insulting.”
Rooke succeeded in her detriment case, after the making of a protected disclosure. She was unsuccessful in her claims for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination and failing to make reasonable adjustments. The tribunal concluded that the online quiz result reflected Harber’s perception of Rooke rather than an accurate representation of her personality.
Left reeling by the negative, apples-to-oranges comparison, Rooke stepped down from her post the next month. The tribunal’s decision highlighted the power of shaping a workplace culture that allows employees to feel treated with dignity and worth.