Receptionist wins wrist pain payout over ‘boat’ desk

A RECEPTIONIST at a soft play centre has won a £34,000 payout after working behind her boat-shaped desk worsened her wrist pain, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Barbra Hall complained her carpal tunnel syndrome was exacerbated by having to pick up a card payment machine 100 times a day.

The layout of the desk, “designed like a boat”, meant she had to constantly reach down to a lower counter to pick up the machine.

Mrs Hall repeatedly raised concerns about the desk and the pain it caused her wrists and hands but nothing was done, an employment tribunal heard.

Two years after she joined, an occupational health assessment was carried out and advised fixing the machine to a cradle as well as other recommendations but managers failed to take action.

Mrs Hall was signed off work sick from Let’s Explore in Horley, Surrey, and has now successfully sued the soft play area for disability discrimination, winning £34,145 in compensation.

The London tribunal heard she “soldiered on” despite the pain because she loved her job and needed the money as her husband had poor health.

Mrs Hall joined the soft play area in October 2017, having previously had double hand surgery for her carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition which causes severe pain in hands, fingers and wrists. The tribunal heard she raised several “ergonomic concerns” about the boat desk and that other colleagues complained too. But, the recommendations were never implemented.