An employee who worked for League Against Cruel Sports bought a case against them as he claimed that he was sacked as a result of his ethical veganism.
In this landmark case, the judge came to the decision that ethical vegans should be given similar protections in the workplace as those who hold a religious belief.
The Claimant in this case was dismissed by his employer, who are an animal welfare charity. They claim that he was dismissed as a result of gross misconduct. The Claimant argue that he was dismissed as a result of disclosing that they invest pension funds in firms which are involved in animal testing.
The employee claims to be an “ethical vegan” and he believes that his belief affects his everyday life. He is alleging that his employer discriminated against him as a result of his belief.
The tribunal are yet to make a decision about the Claimant’s dismissal but it’s decision will no doubt have consequences and could shape the future for employment law.
Employers will need to respect their staff who are an ethical vegan and they should ensure that they do not discriminate their employees for having such a belief.
The consequences could be huge for businesses and the implications could be huge not just for employment law and businesses, but also for the education system.
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