Belief discrimination
Protection against discrimination in the Equality Act 2010 goes beyond safeguarding employees' religious beliefs to cover “philosophical beliefs” as well. Employees who hold a “philosophical belief” that meets the test set out in case law are protected against direct and indirect belief discrimination, harassment and victimisation because of their belief.
What constitutes a “philosophical belief” under the Equality Act 2010 is a matter of fact in each case. Employment tribunals will apply the test in Grainger plc v Nicholson, in which the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) set out five hurdles that must be jumped for a philosophical belief to come within the Equality Act 2010. The EAT found that a deeply held belief that “mankind is duty-bound to act on catastrophic climate change” was protected under the Equality Act 2010.
Society launches veganism guidance for employers
Following last month’s landmark ruling that ethical veganism qualifies as a philosophical belief for the purposes of the Equality Act,...
Dress codes and religious discrimination: what is reasonable?
While having a dress code can help project a professional image, employers need to be careful that their policies do...
Has the ethical veganism ruling broken new ground?
What does the “ethical veganism as a philosophical belief” ruling really mean and does it mark a change in law?...
Landmark ruling: ethical veganism is a philosophical belief
Ethical veganism should be protected under the Equality Act 2010.
Tribunal to decide whether ethical veganism is a ‘philosophical belief’
An employment tribunal in January will consider whether ethical veganism should be protected under discrimination law – and could have major ramifications for organisations.
Woman who lost job over transgender tweets loses hearing
A woman who lost her job at a charity because she tweeted that transgender women cannot change their biological sex...
Woman who lost job over transgender views begins tribunal case
An employment tribunal is examining the loss of employment of a tax expert after she had publicised her views on transgender rights: a landmark case.
General election 2019: when politics and work mix
How can employers prevent employees from electioneering at work? Should the workforce be banned from highlighting their political allegiances in...
Wearing a poppy in the workplace: myth or reality?
Employers sometimes make the headlines over their policy on staff wearing a poppy in the workplace. We set out the...
Ex-Mulberry employee loses philosophical belief appeal
A former Mulberry designer who refused to sign a copyright agreement because she had a “philosophical belief” in the right...
Political beliefs in the workplace: what does the law say?
As the debate over Brexit reaches a crescendo and leavers and remainers disagree on what should happen next, Richard Fox...
Vegetarians cannot be victims of discrimination: tribunal
Vegetarians cannot be victims of discrimination, a judge has held, after a tribunal found it could not be described as...
‘Gay cake’ case referred to European Court
The case involving a Northern Irish bakery that refused to make a cake with a message supporting gay marriage will...
Companies warned over discrimination against vegans
Employers need to work much harder to consider the needs of vegan employees and treat them with respect, or risk running into legal difficulties, an employment law firm has warned.
Tribunal to consider discrimination against vegan
An employment tribunal will next year decide if “ethical veganism” is a philosophical belief in a case involving a man...
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