A firm has hit headlines for introducing an expenses policy that only allows employees to claim back work-related costs providing that they don’t contain meat.
According to the BBC, staff working for the property development firm, Igloo Regeneration will only qualify to be compensated for the work expenses they have incurred if the purchase is vegetarian. It was reported that internal staff voted on the idea for the policy and it passed, with just a few employees objecting to it.
This move was prompted by an aspiration to become more environmentally friendly. "We realised we needed the whole company to come on board, it couldn't just be imposed," explained Development Surveyor, Kate Marfleet, who persuaded staff to become vegetarian to reduce its environmental impact.
"We had some justifications as to why it was a good idea, mostly environmental. There were some reservations from staff, but most of those were based on them being unsure of the environmental impact," she told the BBC.
The policy has been described as ‘self-policing’ where staff are urged to make food-related decisions based on their own dietary requirements.
If this means, for example, that an employee has an intolerance to gluten and can’t find a suitable vegetarian option, if they do end up purchasing something that contains meat then they will have to foot the bill.
"And if you are somewhere where there is no vegetarian option, then obviously you shouldn't starve. Even if you decided you really wanted a bacon sandwich, then that's fine, but the company won't pay for it," Marfleet explained.
To boost its environmentally friendly approach, the firm doesn't give out company cars and encourages staff to use public transport where possible.
The news of this policy received mixed reviews online. Taking to Twitter, user @TonyPayne_RedC claimed that this policy has “got to be discriminatory” with others sharing concerns about the legalities.
There first employment tribunal will make an interesting test case.
— Ghost of Democracy past #ChangePoliticsForGood (@Machiavelli2018) February 18, 2020
I'm not sure they have the right to make such decisions. Especially that a diet of meat and veg is a traditional Western choice. Discrimination? Possible.
I don't know why these things need to be voted for.
— Lawrence Woodman (@LorryWoodman) February 18, 2020
All those who don't want to eat meat can choose not to and those who do want to can carry on as they see fit.
This is just imposing a set of values on people and taking away their free choice.
While some Twitter users asked whether this move could be considered discriminatory, Karen Holden, Founder of A City Law firm, told HR Grapevine that, under current UK law, dietary requirements to eat meat aren't a protected characteristic. "So we couldn’t say that a policy to reimburse only vegetarian food is discriminatory. However, a recent employment tribunal case has suggested that ethical veganism should be a characteristic protected from discrimination, so it is not such an extreme idea that the way staff want to eat should be taken into account in the workplace.
"A dietary requirement is currently just that; unless for example, it is a disability. There are severe dietary allergies that could be acknowledged as disabilities, and employees would then need to be protected from discrimination on that basis," Holden added.
Other users commended the firm’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly and explained that they wanted to implement something similar at their own firm.
I'm going to do this!
— Nick Court (@Scruffy_Nick) February 18, 2020
New policy @Naomi_Jade_x @Ben_PxDev
Love this! But what if you take a client out who asks for meat...?
— Jess Saumarez (@JSaumarez) February 18, 2020
Igloo Regeneration isn’t the only firm to have put a stop to non-vegetarian expenditure at work in a bid to reduce its environmental impact.
In 2018, The Guardian reported on WeWork’s environmental movement which meant that meat was no longer served at work events and staff couldn’t be reimbursed for meals that included poultry, pork or red meat.
WeWork’s Co-Founder, Miguel McKelvey, said in an email to staff that the firm was abolishing meat for environmental reasons.
He explained: “New research indicates that avoiding meat is one of the biggest things an individual can do to reduce their personal environmental impact, even more than switching to a hybrid car.”
And it seems that initiative's like these may be useful when attracting fresh talent to the business with almost 40% of Millennials choosing to work for an organisation based on their environmental ethics, according to research.
Steven
In any case it is irrespective, because even if a majority of staff voted for this, why should they get to dictate to the minority. It doesn’t matter if it is one single person who wishes to eat meat, or 100% of the workforce, it is down to individual choice. As Helen points out, this is a PR stunt, a form of corporate virtue signalling, no different than the exclusively vegan menus at so many recent awards ceremonies such as the Oscars. Will this employer insist on strict veganism next? After all, vegans insist that even vegetarianism is “not enough”.
Anna
Helen
Mike Butler
Boris