Professor Wins £1 Million for Discrimination
In February 2025, following a 13-year legal battle, an employment tribunal awarded Professor Roya Sheikholeslami over £1 million in compensation after ruling that the University of Edinburgh had unfairly dismissed her.
Professor Sheikholeslami, who joined the university in 2007 as a professor of chemical process engineering, faced delays in laboratory access due to refurbishment setbacks, leading to work-related stress and allegations of sex discrimination. A subsequent diversity review revealed a hostile environment toward female professors. The tribunal found that the university failed to support her return to work and did not explore options to extend her work permit, resulting in her dismissal in 2012.
The compensation covers past and future economic losses, interest, and procedural uplifts. While the majority of the losses are representative of her financial losses, this case helps to highlight the ability of the Tribunal to make awards over and above the cap in cases of discrimination.
