UK Hospital Ordered to Pay Woman Over £7,700 After Anxiety Affected Job Interview

A woman in the United Kingdom has been awarded £7,720 (approximately $9,700 USD as of March 9, 2026) after successfully suing a hospital for alleged flaws in its recruitment process. The claimant argued that her anxiety disorder negatively impacted her interview performance and the hospital failed to adequately consider her condition.

Details of the Case

Rezai applied for the position of “Pathology Operations Manager” at a British cancer center in February 2024. While she initially ranked highly, she was not selected for the role when the first-choice candidate declined the offer. Instead of offering the position to Rezai, the hospital proceeded with another applicant, a decision she contested.

Rezai explained to the hospital that her anxiety might hinder her ability to provide concise answers in a high-pressure interview setting. She subsequently sent a letter of complaint, but received no response for several weeks.

Court Findings

The London Employment Tribunal found several issues with the hospital’s handling of the recruitment process. Hospital records were incomplete, with missing rating data from one interviewer, making it impossible to definitively confirm the ranking of candidates. The court deemed this a “significant and serious oversight.”

the hospital did not consider re-interviewing Rezai or reassessing her scores after she disclosed her anxiety. The court stated that simple adjustments, such as rescheduling the interview or re-evaluating the scoring, could have been implemented, but were not.

Legal Outcome

The court ruled in favor of Rezai, awarding her £7,720 in compensation for the hospital’s flawed recruitment process and failure to accommodate her anxiety disorder.

Key Takeaways

• The case highlights the importance of fair and inclusive recruitment practices.
• Employers should consider the potential impact of disabilities, such as anxiety, on interview performance.
• Maintaining accurate and complete recruitment records is crucial.
• Responding to candidate concerns and complaints in a timely manner is essential.