Workplace bust-up over water jug leads to £15k payout

A woman has been awarded almost £15,000 after she was unfairly dismissed following a dispute over a jug of water.

Mandy Davies was a Court Officer for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in February 2017 when she was struck with a bout of cystitis. Her nurse advised her to use an over-the-counter medicine which must be dissolved in water.

While she was working, Davies kept her medication in a pencil case in the courtroom. However, upon returning from a break she had taken she noticed her belongings had been moved and her jug of water emptied. She then saw two men drinking water in the public area of the court, and realised she wasn’t sure if she had mixed her medicine into the jug before leaving the room.

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When she shared her concerns with the men, one of them made comments to the effect of ‘trying to poison the two old guys in the court’ and asking if he would grow ‘boobs’, according to the court documents.