UK Employment Tribunal orders NHS to pay staff £1,425 after Ghanaian co-worker called her ‘Auntie’

A UK employment tribunal has ordered an NHS trust to pay £1,425 to a healthcare assistant after ruling she was subjected to workplace harassment linked to repeated use of the term “auntie” and other remarks.

The claimant, 61-year-old Ilda Esteves, said a colleague continued to address her as “auntie” even after she asked him to stop and to use her name instead. She argued that the repeated use of the term, alongside additional comments about her appearance, created a hostile working environment.

The colleague, nurse Charles Oppong, maintained that “auntie” was intended as a respectful form of address commonly used in Ghanaian culture for older women. He also told the tribunal that he meant no offence.

However, Esteves said the behaviour persisted despite her objections. In her complaint, she stated that the colleague responded dismissively when challenged and continued using the term.

She also reported that he made comments suggesting she would be a suitable partner for an older male colleague, which she found inappropriate in a professional setting.

The tribunal heard that the incidents occurred while Esteves worked at West London NHS Trust, including time spent at St Bernard’s Hospital.

In its findings, the tribunal rejected aspects of the nurse’s account, describing his evidence as inconsistent. It concluded that the term had been used on multiple occasions and not as a single isolated incident.

While acknowledging the cultural context behind the word, the judge ruled that its continued use after clear objections made it unreasonable and offensive in the workplace. The panel also found that the additional remarks contributed to an environment that met the threshold for harassment.

The tribunal therefore upheld Esteves’s claim and awarded compensation.