NHS worker receives £30k payout after being compared to 'legendary Star Wars villain' Darth Vader ()
<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52852702%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3Dj0mY3zuPjRa" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p>An NHS worker has been awarded almost £30,000 in compensation after a colleague compared her to Star Wars villain Darth Vader.</p><p>Lorna Rooke, who worked for the NHS Blood and Transplant service, was upset after a co-worker took a Star Wars-themed personality test on her behalf.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>The employment tribunal in Croydon, south London, ruled that being aligned with the infamous sci-fi character's personality was "insulting" and constituted a workplace "detriment".</p><p>"Darth Vader is a legendary villain of the Star Wars series, and being aligned with his personality is insulting," said Employment Judge Kathryn Ramsden.</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Darth Vader" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="27d5871abc8031a44311e20e8e114e54" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="90a39" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/darth-vader.jpg?id=60155066&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><p>The incident occurred during a team-building exercise in August 2021 when Rooke was taking a personal phone call.</p><p>When Rooke returned, her colleague Amanda Harber had completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator quiz for her and announced to the team that she fell into the Darth Vader category.</p><p>The personality test sorts people into 16 categories based on traits such as introversion, intuition, and how they perceive the world.</p><p>In the Star Wars franchise, Vader is a half-human, half-machine villain who uses the "dark side of the force".</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-mostread"></div><p><strong>LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/celebrity/itv-britains-got-talent-teddy-magic-missing-line-up-mystery" target="_self">ITV BGT's Teddy Magic missing from next semi-final line-up as mystery over child magician continues</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/celebrity/itv-for-the-love-of-dogs-fans-presenting-change-pete-wicks" target="_self">ITV For the Love of Dogs fans call for major presenting change after latest series update</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/neighbour-row-travellers-take-over-huge-field-with-fleet-of-caravans" target="_self">Neighbour row erupts as travellers take over huge field with fleet of caravans</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br/><img alt="NHS sign" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6798a9ba01a550ad00ac18b660c63e17" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="12f4a" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/nhs-sign.jpg?id=33223817&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><p>Although the test described the Darth Vader category as a "very focused individual who brings the team together", the tribunal found this characterisation upset Rooke.</p><p>The judge rejected attempts to argue that being compared to Vader had positive attributes.</p><p>Rooke told the tribunal the incident made her feel "unpopular" and contributed to her resignation the following month.</p><p>The tribunal found that while the "Darth Vader incident" wasn't the reason for Rooke's resignation, it did count as a detriment following a protected disclosure she had made months earlier.</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Star Wars poster" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="547250eb8551d7a5ed4fddda6424ba85" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="87c97" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/star-wars-poster.jpg?id=60155069&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><p>"It therefore reflected Ms Harber's perception of the Claimant's personality, and was shared in a group environment," the judge noted.</p><p>"It is little wonder that the Claimant was upset by it."</p><p>The tribunal heard that Rooke had previously raised concerns about a donor safety check form.</p><p>Rooke won her case for detriment after a protected disclosure but lost claims for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, and failure to make reasonable adjustments.</p><p><span></span>She was awarded £28,989.61 in compensation, which included £12,000 for injury to feelings.</p>
