Vegan seeks protection against employment discrimination

Several philosophers interviewed by the European online publication Quartz say vegans should be protected under anti-discrimination statutes when it comes to employment.

“I think it’s a sounder belief than any of the religions,” one told a reporter. “I think veganism rests on a strong moral foundation. It’s clearly a deep belief, it affects your life and the way you behave and outlook on the world, and I think should count as philosophical belief.”

The question is at the root of a case in the United Kingdom brought by a man who claims he was fired for his vegan beliefs and, as such, was discriminated against, Quartz reported Tuesday. A U.K. employment tribunal is slated to hear a case in 2019.

“To decide whether his case has grounding, the tribunal must first resolve whether veganism constitutes a philosophical belief under U.K. law, and so deserves the same protections as religious beliefs,” Quartz explains. 

To qualify as a “belief,” according to U.K. law, veganism must be genuinely held, attain a certain level of cogency and seriousness, and be worthy of respect in a democratic society, the publication reported.