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'Flatulent' Bristol Bus Driver Loses Discrimination Case After 'Bad Smell' Complaint
The tribunal found the complaint was a genuine workplace concern and ruled the dismissal was based on poor driving, not disability.
- On Friday, the Bristol Employment Tribunal rejected a discrimination claim from former bus driver Stephanie Bryan, who sued The Big Lemon after her dismissal following a workplace dispute with colleague Samantha Bingham.
- In January 2025, Samantha Bingham reported a persistent odor in the bus cab Stephanie Bryan had driven; Bryan responded with hostility, stating, "Everyone needs to fart," when confronted about the smell.
- Employment Judge Jonathan Walters ruled the odor was "consistent with faecal matter potentially caused by significant flatulence," and found no evidence the dismissal related to Bryan's undisclosed depression, borderline personality disorder, or bladder weakness.
- The Big Lemon dismissed Bryan for failing to "satisfactorily complete her probationary period" due to poor driving standards, while praising Bingham for her professionalism throughout the case.
- Bingham raised a "genuine workplace concern" and acted reasonably by reporting the incident, the Tribunal confirmed, clarifying that workplace hygiene complaints are distinct from disability discrimination when handled properly.
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17 Articles
17 Articles
A colleague complained about the strong smell she had left in the vehicle and said she had to wash all her clothes and shower when she got home. The case ended in court, which rejected the driver’s claim on the grounds that her dismissal was due to other reasons.
·Madrid, Spain
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Right
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources lean Right
43% Right
L 43%
14%
R 43%
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