When does an alleged belief in ethical veganism amount to a protected philosophical belief?

In Owen v Willow Tower Case No 200073/2022, an employment tribunal (ET) has recently considered whether an alleged belief in ethical veganism was sufficient to amount to a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010), and therefore attract protection from discrimination. The claimant worked as bank staff in a care home and raised a grievance following a decision that all staff should be vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19).

In Owen, the claimant followed a vegan diet and believed she was therefore exempt from having the vaccine (as it may contain animal products or be tested on animals). She also had concerns about the possible side-effects of the vaccine and its efficacy. She raised a grievance which was not upheld and she was dismissed for not complying with the legal requirement for care home staff to be vaccinated (unless exempt); she subsequently brought claims for unfair dismissal and religion or belief discrimination. On the latter, the ET found that the claimant’s alleged belief in ethical veganism was not a protected belief under EqA 2010 in these particular circumstances.

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