RSI masseuse wins £100,000 from Virgin Atlantic

A Virgin Atlantic beauty therapist has been awarded more than £100,000 compensation from the airline after developing repetitive strain injury (RSI) caused by giving Japanese shiatsu massages.

As part of her job, Elizabeth King carried out the massages – which would normally be performed on undressed people while they are lying down, using massage oils – on seated, fully-clothed passengers in Virgin Atlantic’s Heathrow Clubhouse.

The awkward postures King had to adopt lead to the RSI, which meant she had to give up her job and change career because she could no longer massage.

The court awarded King just over £109,000 to compensate for her loss of earnings.

In a previous out of court settlement, Virgin Atlantic awarded £26,000 to another injured beauty therapist called Emily Rimmer.

A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic said: “The health and safety of our employees is one of our highest priorities.

“This settlement allows all parties to draw a line under the case. We wish Elizabeth well in the future.”