A plant care employee fired for refusing to get a Covid-19 vaccine loses discrimination declare

In Ms T Owen v Willow Tower Opco 1 Ltd, the Employment Tribunal held that the Claimant’s perception in vegetarianism didn’t quantity to protected standing inside the that means of Part 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

Ms Owen, who adopted a strict vegan weight-reduction plan and prevented merchandise that had been examined on animals, has taken a authorized case in opposition to her former employers, Willow Tower, after she was fired. Workers on the care house had been required to have Covid vaccinations, and after Ms Owen refused on the grounds that the vaccine went in opposition to her beliefs as a result of it was examined on animals, her employment was terminated.

In her submissions written to the Employment Tribunal, Mrs. Owen said, “I refused the vaccine on the grounds that I’m a vegetarian. There was no clarification as as to if or not the vaccination contained animal merchandise or that it was really examined on animals. I object to the consumption of animal merchandise on moral grounds.”

The court docket discovered that Mrs. Owen’s proof fell in need of exhibiting the required depth of religion. Whereas she adhered to a vegan weight-reduction plan and prevented sure non-vegan merchandise, together with leather-based, she was unable to pinpoint when she adopted the moral vegan weight-reduction plan or present complete particulars about how she constructed her life round that perception past her meals selections.

Moreover, when requested about using wool, Mrs. Owens shrugged. The court docket additionally famous that she had admitted to utilizing non-vegetarian merchandise throughout her work, albeit whereas carrying gloves. Furthermore, the paperwork supplied by Ms. Owen lacked substantial references to her moral veganism, focusing extra on the experimental nature and potential well being and security considerations of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In consequence, the Court docket discovered that Ms Owen had not created protected property inside the that means of Part 10 of the Equality Act 2010, and her declare was dismissed.