Ghanaian man fined £1,425 for calling colleague “Auntie”
A Ghanaian worker employed by the UK’s National Health Service has been directed to pay £1,425 in damages after an employment tribunal ruled that he harassed a colleague by repeatedly calling her “auntie.”
The case, reported by The Independent on Wednesday, March 25, involved 61-year-old Ilda Esteves, a healthcare assistant with the West London NHS Trust. She told the tribunal that she found the term offensive and had asked her colleague, Charles Oppong, to stop using it.
In his defence, Mr Oppong, who worked at St Bernard’s Hospital, maintained that the word “auntie” is widely used in Ghanaian culture as a respectful form of address for older women.
However, the tribunal determined that his behaviour created a hostile working environment. Employment Judge George Alliott noted that Mr Oppong’s actions were likely intended as humour but were inappropriate, stating that it was reasonable for Ms Esteves to feel offended.
The ruling also cited other comments made by Mr Oppong, including suggesting that Ms Esteves would be “a good match” for another older colleague, which further supported the harassment claim.
Although Mr Oppong acknowledged using the term once, he denied doing so repeatedly. The tribunal dismissed this claim, describing his evidence as unclear and unconvincing.
While other allegations raised by Ms. Esteves, such as discrimination, victimisation, and unlawful wage deductions, were not upheld, the tribunal ruled in her favour on the harassment claim related to age and sex.
Judge Alliott recognised that “auntie” can be a respectful term in Ghanaian culture but emphasised that continuing to use it after being asked to stop made it inappropriate and offensive in a professional setting.
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