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Religion

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.


    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News
    • Ethnicity

    Census shows England and Wales more diverse than ever

    by Ashleigh Webber 30 Nov 2022
    by Ashleigh Webber 30 Nov 2022

    England and Wales are more diverse than ever, with Christianity no longer the most common religion and fewer people identifying...

    • Belief discrimination
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Lack of inclusion blights working lives of many UK Hindus

    by Adam McCulloch 22 Nov 2022
    by Adam McCulloch 22 Nov 2022

    New research has found that hardly any Hindus feel their organisation is happy for them to take time off for religious festivals.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    Tattoos in the workplace: dress codes and visible ink

    by Nicola Cockerill 23 Aug 2022
    by Nicola Cockerill 23 Aug 2022

    Nicola Cockerill examines the benefits and legal issues on relaxing dress codes around tattoos in the workplace.

    • Belief discrimination
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    How to create an inclusive workplace for religion

    by Zuraida Curtis 29 Jul 2022
    by Zuraida Curtis 29 Jul 2022

    Observing good practice in respect of religion can help build a more diverse, inclusive, respectful and motivated workforce. In creating...

    • 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.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News
    • Leave

    Supporting Muslims during Eid: Five employer questions

    by Sabah Ahmedi 14 Jun 2022
    by Sabah Ahmedi 14 Jun 2022

    With the Islamic festival of Eid Al-Adha expected to begin on 28 June, many Muslim employees will be preparing for...

    • 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...

    • Coronavirus
    • Testing
    • Self-isolation

    Top 10 HR questions March 2022: is long Covid a disability?

    by Brightmine 1 Apr 2022
    by Brightmine 1 Apr 2022

    When managing employees with long Covid, employers need to remember their obligations under disability discrimination law.
    Whether long Covid meets...

    • 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...

    • Social mobility
    • Sexual harassment
    • Gender

    ‘Wokeful’? No, Armed Forces’ diversity is woeful says chief of defence staff

    by Rob Moss 8 Dec 2021
    by Rob Moss 8 Dec 2021

    Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has said that the Armed Forces risked ‘looking ridiculous’ unless they better reflect the nation they...

    • 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...

    • Brexit
    • General Data Protection Regulation
    • Right to work

    Top 10 HR questions April 2021: Vaccination and data protection

    by Brightmine 4 May 2021
    by Brightmine 4 May 2021

    Questions on Covid-19 vaccination dominate this month's list, alongside IR35, right-to-work checks and the relationship between holiday pay and overtime.

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