A DISABLED car crash victim has won more than £17,000 after a colleague allegedly spun around in her specialist office chair and joked she “felt like Stephen Hawking”.
Department for Work and worker Alison McRobbie took her employer to tribunal after the comment left her upset and humiliated.
Alison McRobbie (pictured) won £17,280 after successfully suing the Department for Work and Pensions
The tribunal heard Ms McRobbie claimed her co-worker also pulled faces and mimicked Stephen Hawking’s posture Credit: Getty
The hearing was told Ms McRobbie had been showing off the specially adapted chair, which had been provided to help with pain caused by injuries suffered in a 2017 crash.
But colleague Josie Hooper allegedly sat in the chair, spun around and compared it to one used by world-famous physicist .
The tribunal heard Ms McRobbie claimed her co-worker also pulled faces and mimicked the late scientist’s posture.
Judge Catherine Rayner said Ms Hooper could not “definitely say” she had not made the remark.
The panel found it was more likely than not that the comment about Hawking had been made.
However, judges ruled claims that Ms Hooper acted out an impression of the physicist had been exaggerated.
Ms McRobbie suffered arthritis and joint problems following the crash, along with diagnosed in 2022.
She had asked the DWP to make adjustments to her workstation, including providing a better chair with neck support.
After delays, the equipment was finally installed in October 2022.
The tribunal heard Ms McRobbie was “genuinely pleased” with the chair and invited Ms Hooper to try it out.
Judge Rayner said the comparison to Hawking was “not flattering or complimentary”.
The tribunal ruled the comment amounted to harassment because it drew attention to Ms McRobbie’s .
Judge Rayner said: “We find that she was upset at the time and that part of the reason for her upset was a comment linking her chair with Stephen Hawking.
“We find it was unwanted and that it was related to her disability.”
The panel added that while “most people would not find this offensive”, it was reasonable for Ms McRobbie to feel harassed in the circumstances.
The tribunal also upheld a claim that the DWP failed to make reasonable adjustments for her disability.
Ms McRobbie, who represented herself during proceedings, was awarded £17,280 for injury to feelings.
But the tribunal also ordered her to pay the DWP £10,912 in costs.
Judges ruled she had behaved “unreasonably” during the case and had been “dishonest” in parts of her evidence.
That included exaggerating allegations that her colleague mimicked Stephen Hawking.
The tribunal stressed the case itself was not “misconceived or unreasonable”.
After the deductions, Ms McRobbie’s final payout will total £6,368.
The hearing in Southampton was told Ms McRobbie worked as a work coach after joining the DWP in June 2021.
She later became a social media influencer with a sizeable online following.
Following a breakdown in relations with the department, she was dismissed for alleged gross misconduct last year.
Her claims for discrimination, unfair dismissal and several other complaints were dismissed by the tribunal.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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