ROLLING your eyes at a colleague can be a breach of employment laws, a tribunal has ruled.
And repeatedly doing it can amount to bullying.
The judgment suggests employers can be held liable for damages if a worker is found to have used the gesture to target a colleague.
It follows the case of a Scottish dental nurse awarded £25,000 after her colleague rolled her eyes whenever she spoke to her.
An employment tribunal found Maureen Howieson, 64, was subjected to “rude, isolating, bullying and belittling” behaviour by Jisna Iqbal.
Ms Howieson and Mrs Iqbal had a strained relationship at Great Junction Dental Practice, a clinic in Edinburgh.
Ms Howieson, who ended up quitting her job, won an unfair constructive dismissal claim at the hearing in the city.
The tribunal heard that Ms Howieson had worked for the practice as a receptionist and senior dental nurse since 2008.
Mrs Iqbal took over receptionist duties while Ms Howieson was off sick.
The tribunal ruled that Ms Iqbal’s “clearly unacceptable conduct” had created a “hostile working environment”.
The judgment suggests employers can be held liable for damages over persistent eye rolling[/caption]