An Indian-origin healthcare worker in the UK has won a harassment claim after a colleague repeatedly called her “auntie”, with a tribunal ruling the remarks created an offensive work environment despite their cultural context. An Indian-origin healthcare assistant employed with the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has won a harassment claim over being called “auntie” by a nurse colleague of Ghanaian heritage. “We find that the claimant did perceive it as creating an offensive environment. We find that the circumstances of the comments being made in the office and in the corridor and at handover were such that it had the effect of creating an offensive environment. Her other claims of harassment on the grounds of race, discrimination, victimisation and unauthorised deduction of wages were, however, dismissed.

Source: The Telegraph April 08, 2026 11:12 UTC