'Auntie' hits a nerve, PIO wins harassment suit

LONDON: It might be a term of respect and endearment in India but calling a woman "auntie" in the UK workplace can land you in hot water.

West London NHS Trust has been ordered to pay Indian-origin healthcare assistant Ilda Esteves £1,425 (Rs 1.8 lakh) in damages for "injury to her feelings" after a nurse colleague repeatedly addressed her as "auntie" at work. Employment judge Alliott found it amounted to harassment on the grounds of age and sex. Esteves (64) said Charles Oppong called her "auntie" multiple times despite her asking him not to.

Oppong, who is of Ghanaian heritage, also told her on two occasions in June 2023 that she was a “good match for an older staff member” called George, who worked in Oppong’s ward, Ilda Esteves said. At the time she was 61.

Oppong denied the allegations at Watford Employment Tribunal but did admit he called her “auntie” on one occasion.

Employment judge Alliott said the panel accepted that “auntie” is a term of respect for older people in Ghanaian culture but said: “Nevertheless, since it was against her wishes it would have been offensive to her. We accept that the claimant’s feelings were injured. We find that Charles Oppong should not have made such comments. We find that it did relate to the claimant’s age and sex.”

Alliott said this constituted unwanted conduct. “We find that the circumstances of the comments being made in the office and in the corridor were such that it had the effect of creating an offensive environment. Consequently, the claimant’s claim of harassment succeeds.”

However, Alliott denied Esteves an anonymity order and dismissed her other claims.