European court of justice rules on discrimination based on belief

The ECJ has ruled on a Belgian case about whether an employer can justify having a neutral dress policy and on a French preliminary question on a similar theme. It confirms that a dress code aimed at neutrality can be used to justify discrimination based on belief. In the Belgian case, a female receptionist was employed by a Belgian business. The business had an internal…

U.K.: Discrimination by dresscode?

Employers introduce dress or ‚appearance‘ codes for various reasons, such as to protect health and safety or to portray a particular image. The new report, published jointly by the House of Commons Petitions Committee and the Equalities Committee, emphasises that employers should remain alert to potential discrimination (e.g. on grounds of sex, race, religion or age) that can be caused by some dress codes, as well…

U.K.: New discrimination case law

The CJEU found that a provision in a scheme’s rules which required members to marry before the age of 60 for full survivors’ benefits to be payable did not constitute discrimination on the grounds of age or sexual orientation. This was despite the fact that it was legally impossible for the claimant to enter into a civil partnership or same sex marriage before reaching that…