Equality bill legislation 'will cover vegans and Scientologists'
Commercial insurance
10th March 2010
Provisions made in the new equality bill would ban employers from discriminating against vegans, atheists, Scientologists, teetotalers and Rastafarians, among other groups.
This is according to a statement made in the draft code of practice that accompanies the proposed legislation, which explains: "A belief need not include faith or worship of a god or gods, but must affect how a person lives their life or perceives the world."
Produced in order to clarify what is covered by the planned equality legislation, the guidance highlights the importance of companies having effective liability insurance in place.
However, a spokesman for the Government Equality Office told the Telegraph that courts must decide what constitutes a religious belief, although the department does not share the opinion that veganism or climate change can be categorised as such.
A court ruled in November that under the law, climate change could be considered to be a "philosophical belief" and its proponents would therefore be protected from persecution.
Meanwhile, small firms are also advised that new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills regulations bar firms from blacklisting trade union members.
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