The name might conjure images of pins being stuck into effigies – but voodoo is a protected religious belief, an employment tribunal has ruled for the first time.
The religion has ‘clear teachings’ and ‘tries to explain mankind’s place in the universe’ with its concepts of spirits and divinity, a panel said.
As such, voodooism is ‘more than just an opinion’, meaning its followers cannot be discriminated against under workplace equality laws.
The ruling came in the case of a council worker who sued his employers for racial and religious harassment after a colleague said: ‘I’m like a voodoo doll with needles in her eyes.’
Carl Wint is not a believer in voodoo but argued that as a Christian he was offended by the mention of the other religion, and the comment was made because he has Jamaican heritage.
The support officer for young people lost his case against Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council after the panel found it was a ‘poorly judged throwaway comment’ that was not directed at him.
The support officer for young people lost his case against Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, pictured, after the panel found it was a ‘poorly judged throwaway comment’ that was not directed at him
Voodooism is ‘more than just an opinion’, meaning its followers cannot be discriminated against under workplace equality laws. Picture: A voodoo Chief blesses a voodoo worshipper during the annual Voodoo Festival in Ouidah, Benin, west Africa
The Birmingham tribunal heard colleague Mandy Shone made the ‘voodoo’ remark in reference to how exhausted she was on a night shift, comparing herself to a doll with pins keeping her eyes open.
Ms Shone said she would have made the same comment in front of a white colleague.
To determine if Mr Wint had been harassed the tribunal had to first decide if voodoo should be a protected belief, which has never been tested.
Employment judge Kate Edmonds concluded the practice does constitute a religion, despite not having a central text, as there are ‘clear teachings’ for followers to live by.
However, in Mr Wint’s case, because the comment was not directed at him and merely ‘thoughtless’, it did not constitute harassment.
The tribunal also found that a belief solely in voodoo dolls would not be protected as they are not an ‘authentic element’ of voodoo and are misrepresented in popular culture.
Based on traditional African practices, voodoo is followed mainly in the Caribbean.
