Employee likened to Darth Vader wins $40K after judge slams comparison as 'insulting'
A British health worker who was likened to Darth Vader at work was awarded nearly $40,000 (P2.2 million) in compensation after a judge ruled the comparison "insulting."
Detailing the incident in August 2021, Lorna Rooke's colleague at the National Health Service took the Star Wars-themed Myers-Briggs-style questionnaire on her behalf while she was not around, per BBC News. The personality test later revealed that Rooke had the same personality type as Darth Vader, a cold-blooded Dark Lord of the Galactic Empire in the Star Wars franchise.
In the personality test, Darth Vader was described as "a very focused individual who brings the team together."
However, this did not sit well with Rooke. According to a Business Insider report, the incident made her "feel unpopular" and added to the "stress and anxiety" she said she had within her workplace. The employment tribunal in Croydon, South London, said the incident was a "detriment" to Rooke, which means it caused her a harmful experience in the workplace.
Meanwhile, a judge was not convinced that the description in the personality test had any positive attributes, saying that the comparison was "insulting."
"Darth Vader is a legendary villain of the Star Wars series, and being aligned with his personality is insulting," Judge Kathryn Ramsden said in the court.
She added that since the results were shared in a group environment, it was "little wonder" that Rooke was "upset" by it.
For Rooke, who had served the company since 2003, this incident was reportedly the final straw for her resignation.
The tribunal awarded Rooke £28,989.61, or about $39,000 (around P2 million) as compensation. However, it rejected her claims for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, and failure to make reasonable adjustments.
