We now know ethical veganism can be a protected belief – but what about the broader issues?

The recent employment tribunal ruling that Jordi Casamitjana’s belief in ethical veganism was protected under the Equality Act was not surprising to legal experts – so why was it so widely reported as a “landmark” case?

The answer may lie in the broader context. Mr Casamitjana alleges that he was dismissed because he had raised legitimate concerns about funds in which his pension contributions were being invested, which included companies which “hurt animals”. On the same day that the decision was announced, the BBC reported that Amazon had “threatened to fire” some employees for speaking up about climate change issues.

Mr Casamitjana's case highlights an important question, as yet unaddressed, about the extent to which employers should attempt to restrict what employees do to campaign for changes in their own employer’s response to issues – such as the treatment of animals or climate change.

For more on both the case, and the broader issues, head over to our sister blog hr law live.