Vegan Discrimination
A man has filed a case against his former employer, claiming he was sacked because of his veganism. From a BBC news report:
The landmark employment tribunal, in Norwich, will consider whether veganism is a "philosophical or religious belief".
"Religion or belief" is one of nine "protected characteristics" covered by the Equality Act 2010.
It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate directly, by treating an employee less favourably than others because of their religion or belief.
To qualify as a philosophical belief, veganism must:
- be genuinely held
- be a belief as to a weighty and substantial aspect of human life and behaviour
- attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance
- be worthy of respect in a democratic society, not be incompatible with human dignity and not conflict with the fundamental rights of others
- be a belief, not an opinion or viewpoint based on the present state of information available.
If successful, the case could provide vegans with protection against discrimination in employment, education and the provision of goods and services.