£234k payout | Health & safety chief on Star Wars show unfairly dismissed after clash over role & authority

A health and safety manager working on a Star Wars TV series has been awarded more than £234,000 after an employment tribunal found she was unfairly dismissed following workplace disputes over her role, conduct, and complaints about treatment.

The case centred on Miss Sadi Khan MBE, who worked on the production of Star Wars: The Acolyte, where tensions emerged over departmental structure, leadership responsibilities, and allegations about comments she made regarding colleagues.

While the tribunal rejected her claims of race and sex discrimination, it found her dismissal was unlawful and not justified by performance or conduct.

Tensions over role and leadership

Khan joined the production in June 2022 as a Production Safety Co-Ordinator. Her role later shifted to Health and Safety Department Manager, though the tribunal found there was “confusion among the Producers and within the Safety Team” about her responsibilities and position.