Philosophical belief under discrimination?

[Welsh cake]

Probably the oddest story I've come across all month, people are talking about this in my workplace and I could really do with your opinion on this. Ex-BBC employee Devan Maistry is trying to open a can of worms here with regards to unfair dismissal over his supposed philosophical beliefs.

An employment tribunal has held that a former BBC employee's belief in the "higher purpose" of the broadcaster is a philosophical belief under discrimination legislation.

Link to full article:
http://www.equalitylaw.co.uk/news/1069/6...r-purpose/

Now I'm well aware that religious beliefs are protected in the workplace and employers have to respect them under equality laws in the UK, but Devan is holding strong views as to how the organisation should actually be operating. Do you think the tribunal should have taken Maistry's claim seriously? They certainly seem to think he has a case as they argue his belief was 'genuine'.

This is bizarre, I mean suppose you are dismissed, and you take legal action against your employer on the grounds that the business should have a "higher purpose", other than to make money or provide a service and so on.

[Minimalist]

I think the tribunal needs to be taken outdoors, beaten with a stick for several hours, and then told to examine the issue again.

[bozo]

The full facts are not given.He is claiming discrimination on age as well as his beliefs. The tribunal has found that his beliefs are genuinely held, that is all.
He hasn't won the case yet, so let's wait and see what happens. Many of these tribunal cases are settled before the actual final hearing.

[Minimalist]

Again, this is obviously British law so would someone enlighten me on what someone's "beliefs" have to do with anything?

In the US someone's beliefs ( and we have some fucking winners running around unsupervised ) are irrelevant. For example, you can believe in sacrificing virgins to the Moon goddess but as long as you don't go out and do it, so what?

Speech ( or belief) is one thing and conduct is another.