Vegans should be given their own shelf in the office fridge, new guidelines state

Charity issues advice to help employers accommodate the needs of vegans

Vegans should be given their own shelf in the office fridge, according to a new set of guidelines for employers.

The Vegan Society published a new booklet titled Supporting veganism in the workplace: A guide for employers, in which it issued advice to companies about how to look after vegan members of staff.

The charity’s advice follows a judge ruling at an employment tribunal that vegans are protected in the workplace by law.

The booklet covers everything from the type of milk that is supplied in the kitchen to office jokes, and recommends that bosses provide vegans with a dedicated shelf in the fridge.

Other suggestions include offering colour-coded equipment and separate areas to prepare food, as well as giving vegans the option to not attend events such as horse racing or hog roasts.

Those who have to wear a uniform to work or use special equipment in their roles should also be offered vegan-friendly versions such as synthetic safety boots or a non-leather phone case, the guidelines say.

The Vegan Society goes on to warn employers that jokes or comments made in the vicinity of vegans that have the potential to offend could constitute unlawful harassment.

“Fostering a general attitude of respect towards vegan employees is key,” the booklet says.

“If ‘jokes’ about an employee’s veganism become burdensome, steps should be made to improve this.”

Matt Turner, a spokesperson for the Vegan Society, said: “It is important that businesses up and down the country take note of these new guidelines and start to include them in their workplace policies and practices as soon as possible.

“This ruling and the protection it confirms for ethical vegans are long overdue.”

The guidelines follow the ruling that ethical veganism qualifies as a philosophical belief for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.

Jordi Casamitjana, a researcher who worked at the League Against Cruel Sports, claimed in January that he was sacked due to his ethical veganism.

In a preliminary hearing, Judge Robin Postle ruled that ethical veganism was protected under the Equality Act, which outlaws discrimination in employment, education, goods and services. He also ruled that veganism fit the description of a protected belief, as with religion.

However, the League Against Cruel Sports, where at least half the staff are believed to be vegetarian or vegan, said the sacking of Casamitjana, was for gross misconduct. The full case will be heard later this month.

There are around 600,000 vegans in Britain, compared with 150,000 in 2014, according to the Vegan Society.

Elsewhere, research conducted by Mintel found that the number of people choosing to consume food containing meat substitutes has risen from 50 per cent in 2017 to 65 per cent.

The market research company found that sales of meat-free foods grew by 40 per cent to an estimated £816m in 2019.