A BRITISH bus driver has lost her legal case against her former employer after claiming she was subjected to disability discrimination and harassment following a workplace complaint about personal hygiene, Metro.co.uk reported.
Stephanie Bryan, an electric bus driver, was accused of leaving an unpleasant smell in the driver’s seat, which her colleague Samantha Bingham used when starting her shift.
An employment tribunal heard that Bingham suspected Bryan had soiled herself after noticing the smell. When Bingham returned home, her partner also noticed it, prompting her to wash her uniform and take a shower.
When confronted, Bryan reportedly responded: “Everyone needs to fart and pass wind.”
The tribunal was told that Bryan reacted negatively to the accusation and developed personal hostility towards Bingham, who had raised the matter out of genuine concern.
Bingham subsequently informed her manager, leading to concerns about personal hygiene being discussed privately during Bryan’s performance review.
Bryan began a three-month probationary period in September 2024, which was later extended until January 2025. She was eventually dismissed over concerns about her performance.
She then brought legal action against her former employer, alleging disability discrimination and harassment related to a bladder condition.
However, an employment tribunal judge dismissed her claims in August, ruling that the complaints were not connected to her medical condition.
The tribunal found that Bryan had been dismissed because of concerns about her driving standards and her failure to complete the probationary period satisfactorily.
