Scotland: Sidonglobophobia sufferer dismissed over collegial ‘banter’ wins £9,000 payout

David Burns, 40, has sidonglobophobia – a fear of cotton wool. He was sacked after he reacted to a provocation from colleagues which included being hit with cotton wool balls and having some tied to the machinery he was operating.

An employment tribunal heard that Mr Burns, from Ayrshire, took the cotton wool from his colleague and put it in his locker before commencing a game of “hot and cold”.

His colleague Marcus Wilson complained to his line manager at Plastic Mouldings Limited, accusing Mr Burns of theft.

Mr Wilson said that as well as stealing the cotton wool, Mr Burns had threatened to physically assault him – something the latter claimed was “only banter” before he gave back the cotton wool.

The complaint escalated to Michael McQueen, who fired Mr Burns despite Mr Wilson protesting that he should not lose his job.

Mr Burns, who had worked at the company for 10 years, was dismissed on November 17.

Thompsons Solicitors in Glasgow, who represented the dismissed worker, said: “We are very satisfied with the outcome, and pleased that Employment Judge [Frances] Eccles was prepared to look behind the employer’s checkbox approach to unfair dismissal and engage substantively with the very serious issue of unfair and sudden loss of employment.”