Zookeeper's Compensation Claim Dismissed After Resignation Over ADHD Challenges
Zookeeper who quit her job after saying ADHD left her unable to identify monkeys loses compensation bid

Image: Mail Online
Lisa O’Hara, a former zookeeper at Edinburgh Zoo, has lost her compensation bid after claiming she faced discrimination due to her ADHD. The tribunal ruled she failed to prove her case, despite acknowledging the negative impact her work had on her health.
- 01Lisa O’Hara resigned in February 2025 after struggling to identify monkey breeds due to her ADHD.
- 02She alleged discriminatory treatment, including criticism of her timekeeping and exclusion from her team.
- 03The tribunal found no legal liability on the part of Edinburgh Zoo or its management.
- 04O’Hara lodged eight complaints related to her dismissal, all of which were dismissed by the tribunal.
- 05The zoo's deputy chief executive expressed satisfaction with the tribunal's decision.
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Lisa O’Hara, a 36-year-old former zookeeper at Edinburgh Zoo, has lost her bid for compensation after claiming that her ADHD hindered her ability to identify monkey breeds, which led to her resignation in February 2025. O’Hara worked in sections of the zoo that included squirrel and capuchin monkeys but struggled with her probationary training, alleging she faced 'degrading' treatment and was excluded from her team. During a 12-day tribunal hearing, she described feeling ostracized and criticized for her timekeeping, while also raising concerns about health and safety practices at the zoo. However, employment judge Brian Campbell ruled that O’Hara failed to prove her claims, stating that while her health was negatively affected, the zoo and its management were not legally liable. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland expressed satisfaction with the tribunal's decision, highlighting the importance of animal identification in zookeeping.
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The ruling may affect workplace accommodations for employees with ADHD in similar environments.
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