A healthcare assistant has been awarded compensation after an employment tribunal found that a coworker repeatedly called her “auntie” despite her objections. According to The Independent, 61-year-old Ilda Esteves brought the complaint against her colleague, Charles Oppong, a nurse at St Bernard’s Hospital in London.
During the tribunal, Esteves testified that Oppong continued referring to her as “auntie” even after she asked him to call her by her name. Oppong argued that the term is considered respectful in Ghanaian culture when addressing older women. However, the tribunal focused on one key point. She said stop.And he did not.
Email Complaint Documented the Behavior
In September 2023, Esteves sent a formal email raising concerns about Oppong’s conduct. In her message, she wrote:
“A staff member called me auntie multiple times despite telling him to call me by my name. He said you want to be young then!”
She also alleged that Oppong commented on her lipstick and suggested she would be a “good match” for another older colleague named George.
The comments, according to Esteves, made her uncomfortable. Oppong maintained during the hearing that “auntie” was a term of endearment and respect in his culture.
But Employment Judge George Alliot described his evidence as “poor.”
Tribunal Acknowledges Cultural Context—but Sides With Employee
The judge acknowledged that the word may be considered respectful in Ghanaian culture.
However, the tribunal ruled that because Esteves clearly asked not to be addressed that way, continuing to use the term made it offensive in this workplace context.
While Esteves succeeded in this aspect of her claim, the tribunal dismissed her additional allegations of harassment, discrimination, and unlawful deduction of wages.
