NHS did not treat Christian worker unfairly, says tribunal

-

The interior of St Peter's Basilica in Rome, the HQ of Christianity
The interior of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the HQ of the Roman Catholic church

An employment tribunal has ruled that an NHS trust did not act unfairly when dealing with a Christian health worker who was disciplined for promoting her religious beliefs at work.

The woman involved considers herself to be a ‘born-again Christian’, and claimed at the tribunal that she faced discrimination because of her religion.

The person involved, who has been named as Ms Wasteney, faced disciplinary proceedings after she was accused of attempting to convert a Muslim colleague to Christianity.

It was alleged at the tribunal that Ms Wasteney prayed for her colleague and proceeded to lend her a book which detailed the transition of a Muslim woman who converting to Christianity.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Ms Wasteney was issued with a final written warning and this was reduced on appeal to a first written warning.

Ms Wasteney claimed direct and indirect religious discrimination and religious harassment in the employment tribunal.

She also relied on article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides the right to “freedom of thought, conscience and religion” and freedom to manifest religious beliefs.

Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.

Latest news

Helen Wada: Why engagement initiatives fail without human-centric leadership

Workforce engagement has become a hot topic across the boardroom and beyond, particularly as hybrid working practices have become the norm.

Recruiters warned to move beyond ‘post and pray’ as passive talent overlooked

Employers risk missing most candidates by relying on job boards as hiring methods struggle to deliver quality applicants.

Employment tribunal roundup: Appeal fairness, dismissal reasoning, discrimination tests and religious belief clarified

Decisions examine appeal failures, dismissal reasoning, discrimination claims and religious belief, offering practical guidance on fairness, causation and proportionality.

Fears of AI cheating in hiring ‘overblown’ as employers urged to rethink assessments

Employers may be overstating concerns about AI misuse in recruitment as evidence of candidate manipulation remains limited.
- Advertisement -

More employees use workplace health benefits, but barriers still limit access

Many workers struggle to access employer healthcare support due to confusion, costs and unclear processes.

Gender pay gap in tech widens to nine-year high as AI roles drive salaries

Women in IT earn less as salaries rise faster in male-dominated AI and cybersecurity roles, widening pay differences.

Must read

Katherine Kindersley: Making recruitment more inclusive for dyslexic professionals

During Learning Disability Work Week, Katherine Kindersley discusses how employers can make the recruitment process more inclusive for candidates with dyslexia.

Ifty Nasir: How will the Employment Rights Bill impact workplace equality?

Ifty Nasir, Founder and CEO at Vestd explains what the new Employment Rights Bill means for pay equality and the steps employers can take to create equality across their business.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you