Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Religious discrimination

Religious discrimination legislation has been in place in the UK since 2003, although individuals of religious denominations that are associated with one particular race have been bringing race discrimination claims much earlier than 2003. “Religion or belief” is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

Religious discrimination laws cover direct and indirect religious discrimination, and harassment and victimisation because of someone's religion.

Any religion is protected under UK equal opportunities laws. This means that, while the majority of claims will be brought by Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Jews, it is possible for an employer to face a workplace discrimination from followers of other religions such as Pagans, Spiritualists or Wiccans (Holland v Angel Supermarket Ltd and another). A lack of religion is also covered.


    • Latest News
    • Dismissal
    • Employment tribunals

    Kristie Higgs succeeds in bid to remove LGBT activist from tribunal panel

    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Jul 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Jul 2022

    Tribunal rules that an LGBT rights activist should be removed from Kristie Higgs' appeal panel because of the possibility of bias.

    • Health and safety
    • Latest News
    • Discrimination

    Christian awarded £22k following dismissal over religious necklace

    by Ashleigh Webber 24 Jun 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 24 Jun 2022

    A Christian who lost his factory job for refusing to remove his crucifix necklace has been awarded more than £22,000.

    • Case law
    • Belief discrimination
    • Latest News

    School discriminated against Christian caretaker who tweeted against Pride

    by Rob Moss 3 May 2022
    by Rob Moss 3 May 2022

    An employment tribunal has ruled that a Cambridgeshire school indirectly discriminated against a teacher when it gave him a final written warning.

    • Latest News
    • Gig economy
    • Religious discrimination

    Union urges Uber to make pensions Sharia compliant

    by Jo Faragher 20 Apr 2022
    by Jo Faragher 20 Apr 2022

    The App Drivers and Couriers Union has taken legal action against taxi hail app Uber because pensions for drivers are...

    • Case law
    • Belief discrimination
    • Bullying and harassment

    EAT hears David Mackereth’s appeal against trans pronouns ruling

    by Rob Moss 29 Mar 2022
    by Rob Moss 29 Mar 2022

    Christian doctor dismissed for refusing to refer to transgender people by their preferred pronouns is appealing a 2019 judgment at the employment tribunal.

    • Absence
    • Latest News
    • Employment tribunals

    Jewish worker dismissed following Passover absence wins £26k

    by Ashleigh Webber 7 Mar 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 7 Mar 2022

    A Jewish employee who lost his law firm job for failing to attend work during a religious holiday has won...

    • Case law
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Belief discrimination

    EAT hears appeal of Christian sacked for LGBT education comments on Facebook

    by Rob Moss 28 Feb 2022
    by Rob Moss 28 Feb 2022

    Kristie Higgs, the Christian school worker sacked for Facebook posts raising her concerns about transgenderism and sex education, has her...

    • Northern Ireland
    • Latest News
    • Religious discrimination

    Pressure to end teachers’ exemption from NI fair employment rules grows

    by Personnel Today 28 Feb 2022
    by Personnel Today 28 Feb 2022

    The exemption of teachers from fair employment legislation in Northern Ireland could be scrapped if a proposal made in private members’ bill is taken forward.

    • Belief discrimination
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    Doctor who lost job over transgender pronoun views launches appeal

    by Ashleigh Webber 14 Feb 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 14 Feb 2022

    A Christian doctor who lost his job after refusing to refer to transgender people by their preferred pronouns is to...

    • Absence
    • Coronavirus
    • Vaccinations

    Employers cutting sick pay for unvaccinated who need to self-isolate

    by Ashleigh Webber 10 Jan 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 10 Jan 2022

    Several employers including Ikea and Wessex Water have cut sick pay for unvaccinated employees who are told to self-isolate after...

    • NHS
    • Constructive dismissal
    • Bullying and harassment

    Christian nurse dismissed for wearing cross necklace wins discrimination claim

    by Ashleigh Webber 6 Jan 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 6 Jan 2022

    Judgment finds ‘no cogent explanation‘ as to why a ‘fine necklace with a small pendant of religious devotional significance‘ was not permitted.

    • Case law
    • Latest News
    • Religious discrimination

    Headscarf ruling is a blow to inclusion

    by Shakil Butt 20 Jul 2021
    by Shakil Butt 20 Jul 2021

    Last week, the European Court of Justice ruled that employers in EU countries could ban staff from wearing religious symbols...

    • Case law
    • Europe
    • Employment law

    European court allows employers to ban religious clothing

    by Adam McCulloch 16 Jul 2021
    by Adam McCulloch 16 Jul 2021

    The ban was justified, said the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, by an employer's need to present a neutral image.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News
    • Discrimination

    Google’s diversity lead removed over antisemitic views

    by Adam McCulloch 4 Jun 2021
    by Adam McCulloch 4 Jun 2021

    Google’s head of diversity has been removed from his post after an antisemitic blog post by him from 2007 re-emerged this week.

    • Case law
    • Belief discrimination
    • Constructive dismissal

    Muslim nuclear engineer wins religious discrimination claim

    by Jo Faragher 7 Apr 2021
    by Jo Faragher 7 Apr 2021

    A Muslim engineer has been awarded £3,500 after his colleagues falsely accused him of having extremist Islamic views.

Newer Posts
Older Posts

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+