Run rabbit, run
I have believed for some time that Harriet Harman is somewhat unrealistic in her view of the world of employment. After the latest offering, I really think she’s lost all the remaining marbles she might have had. A surreptitious check of the calendar reveals that it’s still March and not 1st April, but it now seems that vegans and teetotallers are to be given the same protection against discrimination as religious groups in the Equality Bill.
You might think as a born again vegetarian of more than 30 years duration I would be pleased. I am puzzled, but not especially pleased. If an individual is teetotal or vegan for religious reasons, protection of that belief is adequately covered under the religious discrimination legislation. The legislation includes protection on the grounds of any religious belief or philosophical belief, so it’s already fairly broad and we’ve spoken recently of the case of the employee who said he had suffered discrimination under this heading because of her fervent belief in matters environmental. For the rest of us it’s a lifestyle choice, but as someone who’s lived in a vegetarian and vegan environment for a considerable period of time, I don’t really see the point of adding this to the Bill.
Official guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission points out that the ‘ethical commitment’ of vegan’s to animal welfare is ‘central to who they are’.
The code, which has been drafted by the EHRC, points out that a person who is vegan chooses not to use or consume animal products of any kind. That person eschews the exploitation of animals for food, clothing, accessories or any other purpose and does so out of an ethical commitment to animal welfare. That might be so, but it’s a shame the government didn’t adopt this thinking when it closed all the local abattoirs. This is not what you might call joined up thinking.
Why waste expensive Parliamentary time on such a ridiculous thing? Why on earth do we need such protection?
Answers on a postcard ……..
Russell HR Consulting provides expert knowledge in the practical application of employment law. To sign up for our free monthly newsletter, or for more information, contact us on 0845 644 8955 or e-mail pm@russellhrconsulting.co.uk.