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Roommates, sometimes harmless jokes in the workplace are anything butand Ilda Esteves just proved it. What started as a colleague repeatedly calling her auntie reportedly turned into a full-blown employment tribunal showdown. And, the verdict is giving everyone the side-eye.
According to reports, Ilda Esteves, 61, brought a claim against her NHS employer after nurse Charles Oppong kept referring to her as auntie, despite her repeated requests to be called by her name. Oppong tried to defend himself by saying it was a term of respect in Ghanaian culture. However,the tribunal wasnt buying it.
Judge George Alliott reportedly described Oppongs evidence as poor, noting that he was vague, evasive, and reluctant to even acknowledge a colleague named George who was involved in the incidents. The judge concluded that Oppongs repeated comments, made in offices, corridors, and during handovers, were likely an offensive attempt at humor that created an uncomfortable environment for Esteves.
Furthermore, Esteves had already put Oppong on notice in a September 2023 email, writing that he repeatedly called her auntie despite being asked to use her name, even adding, You want to be young then! He also made comments about her lipstick and again suggested shed be a good match for a colleague named George.
In the end, Esteves was reportedly awarded 1,425(which equated to approx. $1,890) in compensation for harassment based on her age and sex. The tribunal acknowledged that auntie can be a respectful term in Ghanaian culture. However, they emphasized that using it against her wishes was offensive. Her other claims, including discrimination and victimization, were dismissed.
