Imagine working hard at your job, only to discover your colleagues have been gossiping about you behind your back.
That’s exactly what Catherine Clark, a 62-year-old practice manager at the Gardden Road Surgery near Wrexham, experienced.
The drama unfolded when a female doctor, who had a habit of making snide comments, compared Catherine’s family to the Kardashians, turning her life into a source of ridicule.
Humiliating Treatment and Derogatory Nicknames
Catherine found herself at the center of a toxic workplace culture where her daughter and partner were labeled as “narcissistic” in a series of WhatsApp messages.
Staff members even coined the term “Clarkashian Updates” to mock her lifestyle, referring to Catherine as an “old knacker.”
The messages took a particularly harsh turn, with one saying, “Now trying to dislodge the old knacker but like any decent tumor she has a long root!”
Another cruel message compared her to an old horse that needed to be put down.
The Turning Point: A Shocking Revelation
Things escalated when a former partner of Dr. George Williams, who seemed to be the ringleader of this gossip, reached out to Catherine in December 2021.
She learned of the mean-spirited comments made about her, leaving her feeling “devastated” and “torn in half.”
After reporting the behavior to the senior partner at the practice, she fell ill and soon found herself tangled in a dispute over Covid vaccination payments related to a company she had established.
A Hard-Fought Battle for Justice
Eventually, Catherine decided to resign and took her former colleagues to court, citing discrimination, harassment, victimization, and unfair dismissal.
The tribunal took place in Cardiff, where Judge Rachael Harfield listened to her case, revealing that Catherine was also a patient at the clinic.
In August 2020, she had already lodged a complaint about a colleague who was improperly accessing her medical records, adding another layer to her distress.
An Environment of Mockery and Judgment
The judge noted that while staff members were aware Catherine needed medication for anxiety, they showed no empathy, instead looking down on her.
Catherine was labeled a “drug seeker” and was mocked for living a “Clarkashian” lifestyle, as her colleagues deemed her too old for her role.
The term “Clarkashian” clearly had a derogatory connotation, meant to ridicule rather than compliment.
The Gossip Train: A Culture of Disparagement
Testimony revealed that Dr. Williams’ former partner had been making disparaging comments about Catherine for years.
He confirmed that not only were Catherine’s medical records being accessed, but also those of her family members.
Judge Harfield concluded that Catherine and her family had become fodder for gossip within the surgery, with much of it focused on their prescription medications.
Awaiting the Verdict
As the tribunal wraps up, the question remains: how much compensation will Catherine Clark receive for the pain and humiliation she endured?
The decision on her compensation is pending, but one thing is clear—this case has opened a significant conversation about workplace behavior and respect.
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