The Digest: A UK employment tribunal has ordered a National Health Service trust to pay £1,425 to a healthcare assistant who was subjected to workplace harassment after a Ghanaian colleague persistently called her "auntie" despite her objections. Ilda Esteves, 61, told the tribunal that staff nurse Charles Oppong repeatedly used the term, along with comments about her appearance and suggestions she would be a "good match" for an older male colleague. While Oppong argued "auntie" was a sign of respect in Ghanaian culture, the tribunal ruled its continued use after objections created an offensive work environment.
Key Points:
- The tribunal acknowledged the cultural context of "auntie" as a term of respect but ruled that its continued use after objections made it offensive.
- The judge described Oppong's evidence as "evasive and vague," noting inconsistencies in his responses.
- Esteves had repeatedly asked the colleague to use her name instead, but he allegedly responded, "You want to be young then!"
- The case highlights the tension between cultural practices and workplace harassment standards in multicultural settings.
- The additional remarks about pairing Esteves with an older colleague were deemed inappropriate, even if intended as humor.
Sources: The Cable, Vanguard
