A female technician at the V&A Museum has won her unfair dismissal case at an employment tribunal.
Joanna Dickinson was accused of sending an "excessive" number of emails to a colleague, Katy Smith, which did not abate after Smith raised a formal complaint. Dickinson and Smith had been in a relationship three years prior to this behaviour.
Smith felt “harassed” and “constantly on edge at work” as a result of Dickinson’s behaviour, the tribunal heard.
Dickinson sued the museum, after her employers didn’t investigate alternative options to dismissal. Dickinson’s compensation has not yet been determined.
Fiona McKee, founder of HR consultancy firm, The HR Practice, explained that HR plays an important role when incidents like these occur.
She told HR magazine: “HR should ensure there are clear policies in place in terms of standards of workplace behaviours as part of their onboarding process. Annual mandatory training should cover harassment and bullying.”
It can be difficult to establish what is excessive or obsessive behaviour in the workplace as it can be culturally dependent, McKee added, but HR professionals should determine the impact on the individual.
Read more: Employment tribunal backlog worsens
Kate Palmer, director of employment services at HR and employment law consultancy firm, Peninsula, added that fairness and impartiality is crucial when investigating cases.
Speaking to HR magazine, she said: “All investigations must be carried out with fairness,...
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