Declaring yourself a 'non feminist' is an act of discrimination, tribunal rules ... trends now
Declaring yourself a 'non feminist' is an act of discrimination, a tribunal has ruled in a judgement against an Environment Agency manager.
The hearing accepted that the worker 'genuinely' believed in 'non feminism' but the tribunal was 'slightly perplexed' by the concept.
Kevin Legge, an experienced manager in his early 50s who was based in Peterborough, claimed he was resisting his female boss's agenda to promote women over men.
As a result, he was discriminated against because feminism is a belief system he doesn't follow, he argued.
Dismissing his claims, the judge ruled that not agreeing with equality and diversity in the workplace is a 'questionable' belief, 'not worthy of respect', 'compatible with human dignity' and that conflicts with the rights of colleagues.
Holding such views could be in breach of equality laws, the tribunal suggested, as it dismissed Mr Legge's claims of a 'conspiracy' to 'remove males from management positions'.
![Kevin Legge - who was based in Peterborough, Cambs, claimed he refused 'to do [their] bidding by favouring women over men in recruitment or promotion'. Stock image](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/17/08/61666757-13318051-Kevin_Legge_50_says_he_was_forced_out_of_his_job_at_the_Environm-a-1_1713340537847.jpg)
Kevin Legge - who was based in Peterborough, Cambs, claimed he refused 'to do [their] bidding by favouring women over men in recruitment or promotion'. Stock image
The Environment Agency denied his claims and told the tribunal he had been sacked after he committed fraud by claiming a full-time salary while taking time off during the working day to provide counselling sessions.
The employment tribunal - chaired by Employment Judge Robin Postle - found the father-of-one had behaved 'unreasonably' and ordered him to pay £20,000 of the agency's £106,000 legal costs.
'The Tribunal were slightly perplexed by [Mr Legge's] philosophical belief being a non-feminist,' he said. 'It would appear to the Tribunal a feminist is simply about all genders having equal rights and opportunities as men.
'Something the Environmental Agency strived to achieve is an inclusive workforce and still maintaining the best candidate for the roles. It is an aspiration that the workforce fully reflects the diversity of the society it seeks to serve.'
EJ Postle said the tribunal accepted that Mr Legge 'genuinely' believed in 'non feminism'. However, he cast doubt on its validity saying it 'just about' qualifies as a belief rather that an opinion or viewpoint, 'although even that is questionable'.
