Teacher Wins £145,000 for Damage to Voice

A teacher has agreed a settlement of £145,000 in damages after having to over-extend her voice in the classroom where she worked, resulting in permanent damage to her vocal chords.

Joyce Walters attributed her injury to the noise levels outside the adult education centre where she worked in Hillingdon, north-west London. The classroom she was assigned was next to a playground used by schoolchildren during their break times. She found it difficult to make herself heard over the noise and had to keep repeating herself in order to be understood by her students.

Ms Walters claimed to have sought the help of the management of the centre on numerous occasions, but no action was taken to improve her working conditions. As a result, she is now only able to speak for short periods before her throat begins to hurt. After she had exploratory surgery, doctors found that she had nodules on her vocal chords. Unfortunately, her condition means that she is unable to return to teaching.

She commenced a personal injury claim against Hillingdon Council and an out of court settlement of £145,000 was agreed, in addition to compensation of £11,000 in settlement of an employment tribunal claim of disability discrimination.