In Farrell v South Yorkshire Police Authority, an Employment Tribunal has considered whether a dismissed employee’s belief in a conspiracy theory surrounding a ‘New World Order’ and the terrorist attacks in 2001 and 2005 constituted a philosophical belief, such as to attract protection under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 (“the Regulations”). The

In Grainger plc and others v Nicholson the EAT has given guidance on what might qualify as a ‘philosophical belief’ for the purposes of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 (the “Regulations”). In the case, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) held that a belief in the existence of man-made climate change and the need to cut carbon emissions was capable of amounting to a philosophical belief which would qualify an employee holding that belief for protection from discrimination under the Regulations. However, importantly, the EAT made clear that it would be necessary for any claimant to establish that their adherence to the philosophical belief in question is genuine.Continue Reading Guidance on discrimination on the grounds of philosophical belief