Miss Veakins succeeded in her compensation claim for depression caused by harassment and bullying she suffered from her supervisor. She was employed by kier Islington as an electrician from September 2003 to September 2005.
Miss Veakins went on sick leave for depression from September 2005 until June 2006 when she decided to terminate her employment due to the harassment she was experiencing from her supervisor.
The harassment started from July and went on until September 2005 when a lady called Jackie Lavy was made her supervisor.
Miss Veakins said that Mrs Lavy did not like her at all. The first dispute was over Miss Veakins’ wages, the type of problem that is common in the workplace. This dispute led to an embarrassing 'telling-off' of Miss Veakins in front of her colleagues.
Miss Veakins felt that Mrs Lavy persistently picked on her, singling her out from her fellow employees for no apparent reason at all.
There were further disputes about time-keeping and about Mrs Lavy requiring Miss Veakins for a time to sign an In and Out register every day.
Miss Veakins also complained about Mrs Lavy on one occasion telling her to "fuck off", although Miss Veakins acknowledged that that word was not in itself unusual in her work environment.
Mrs Lavy also ripped up in front of Miss Veakins a letter of complaint that Miss Veakins had written.
Miss Veakins complained that Mrs Lavy clearly did not like her and made life hell for her. By the end Miss Veakins acknowledged that she did not like Mrs Lavy either and by that stage she accepted that she may have been a little confrontational herself, in particular about the question of wages.
Apart from Mrs Lavy the job was perfect for Miss Veakins. She had worked hard for the company for two years and eight months. She did not want this taken away just because someone did not like her.
Miss Veakins complainted about office gossip and also about Mrs Lavy asking other employees questions about Miss Veakins private life.
Until Mrs Lavy became her supervisor in July 2005, Miss Veakins employment by Kier Islington had been entirely satisfactory and uneventful for almost two years. However, the two months under Mrs Lavy's supervision resulted in her going on extended sick leave from which she never returned.
Miss Veakins suffered from depression for which she was prescribed medication and received counselling. The medical evidence from a consultant psychiatrist confirmed that the depression was caused by Miss Veakins’ harassment by Mrs Lavy.
The Court believed Miss Veakins In her injury claim against her employers which had resulted from the harassment and bullying at work.
The court concluded that Mrs Lavy’s conduct was beyond the ordinary trials and tribulations and she had crossed the line into behaviour which was oppressive and unacceptable. Her behaviour was malicious.
Miss Veakins succeeded in her personal injury claim which had resulted from the harassment and bullying she had suffered from her supervisor.
If you are being harassed or bullied at your workplace as a result of which you are experiencing depression, you may be entitled to compensation.