A healthcare assistant of Indian origin working for the UK’s NHS won a legal case after being repeatedly called “auntie” by a colleague.
The tribunal ruled that this behavior amounted to harassment based on both age and gender.
As a result, the West London NHS Trust was ordered to pay her £1,425.15 as compensation for emotional harm.
NHS Worker Wins Harassment Case Over Being Called “Auntie,” Awarded Compensation
The case was reviewed by a panel of three judges, who gave detailed reasons for their decision after hearings held the previous year.
While the court acknowledged that “auntie” is considered a respectful term in Ghanaian culture, they still found the context inappropriate.
The nurse who used the term, Charles Oppong, was in a leadership role and was expected to maintain professionalism.
The judgment stated, “We find that Charles Oppong’s purpose was probably an offensive attempt at humour.”
Furthermore, the court concluded that the remarks created an uncomfortable and offensive environment for the claimant.
It added, “We find that the claimant did perceive it as creating an offensive environment… it was reasonable for the comments to have that effect.”
Therefore, the tribunal upheld her claim of harassment on these grounds.
Repeated “Auntie” Remarks and Personal Comments Led to Harassment Claim, Tribunal Told
The claimant, 61-year-old Ilda Esteves, testified that the term was used multiple times despite her asking to be addressed by her name.
She also reported that the nurse made comments suggesting she would be a good match for an older colleague, which occurred more than once.
Even though cultural context was considered, the tribunal emphasized that her discomfort made the comments unacceptable.
The ruling noted, “since it was against her wishes it would have been offensive to her.”
These incidents took place over a short period between June and September 2023.
Additionally, Esteves requested anonymity during the case, but this request was denied.
The tribunal explained that public transparency in legal proceedings outweighed her request for privacy.
On the other hand, several of her other claims, including those related to race discrimination and victimisation, were rejected.
Claims regarding wage issues were also dismissed due to lack of sufficient grounds.
In conclusion, while not all allegations were upheld, the court recognized that the repeated use of the term “auntie” created a hostile environment and warranted compensation.
