A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) work coach has been awarded £17,280 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled that a colleague harassed her by comparing her to Stephen Hawking.
Alison McRobbie, who suffers from arthritis and crepitus following a car crash in 2017, was showcasing a new office chair designed to aid her comfort when colleague Josie Hooper sat in it and made the comparison. The tribunal heard that Ms Hooper was 'spinning round in it' and 'laughing' while making the remark.
The tribunal, held in Southampton, concluded that Ms Hooper's comment 'drew particular attention' to Ms McRobbie's disability and constituted harassment. However, it noted that Ms McRobbie, described as 'very sensitive', may have 'misunderstood' the remark, and that Ms Hooper did not make facial gestures or mimic a disabled person as alleged.
Despite the successful claim, Ms McRobbie has been ordered to pay the DWP £10,912 in costs after the tribunal found she had behaved 'unreasonably' during proceedings. She was dismissed for alleged gross misconduct in November 2025 following a breakdown in her relationship with the DWP.
The tribunal also upheld a claim that the DWP failed to make reasonable adjustments for her disability, but dismissed other claims including unfair dismissal.
