On 3 January, as part of a hearing of an unfair dismissal complaint, an employment tribunal in the city of Norwich, in the east of England, deemed for the first time that being vegan qualifies as a philosophical belief. Under this unprecedented decision, the 2010 Equality Act, which protects employees from all forms of discrimination in the workplace, must also apply to vegan people, in all spheres of their lives and not only when it comes to eating.
“I am satisfied overwhelmingly that ethical veganism does constitute a philosophical belief,” judge Robin Postle said, in this case that has surprised the UK. In his view, it is clear that vegans must be protected by the UK law that forbids all forms of workplace discrimination, on the basis of religion, beliefs, age, handicap, sex change, marriage or civil partnership, maternity, race, gender or sexual orientation.
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