Ethical Veganism is a protected belief

In Casamitjana v The League Against Cruel Sports, the employment tribunal (ET) has accepted that the claimant’s ethical veganism amounts to a protected belief under section 10 of the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010). Consequently, it is open in principle for courts and tribunals to conclude that individuals have experienced discrimination on the grounds of their veganism in work, education and the provision of goods or services.

This is only a first instance decision in which the respondent did not advance a substantive challenge to the belief. Each ethical vegan must satisfy the definition under EqA 2010, s 10 on a case-by-case basis. Nonetheless, it is an important indicator of the judicial approach towards defining belief, building on earlier decisions and pointing a way ahead