Voodooism recognized as protected religious belief in UK tribunal
An employment tribunal ruled for the first time that voodooism is a protected religious belief under UK workplace equality laws. The decision came in the case of a council worker who sued for racial and religious harassment after a colleague made a “voodoo doll” comment.
The tribunal concluded that voodoo qualifies as a religion, as it offers spiritual teachings and explains humanity’s place in the universe. However, the worker’s harassment claim was rejected, as the comment was deemed a “thoughtless” remark and not directed at him. The tribunal advised that voodoo is a sensitive topic, but not every comment amounts to harassment.
Hill Dickinson restricts employee AI access amid a surge in usage
Global law firm Hill Dickinson has restricted employee access to AI tools following a sharp rise in usage. In an internal email, the firm warned staff that much of this usage did not comply with its AI policy. In the future, access will require formal approval.
Employees logged over 32,000 hits on ChatGPT between January and February, 3,000+ on DeepSeek, and nearly 50,000 on Grammarly. However, the exact number of users remains unclear. The firm stressed concerns over the uploading of files to public AI platforms and is tightening controls accordingly.
Labour MPs’ WhatsApp scandal highlights the need for workplace communication policies
Labour MPs Oliver Ryan and Andrew Gwynne have been suspended following revelations of a WhatsApp group containing sexist and racist messages. This incident underscores the growing need for clear workplace communication policies, even on personal devices. Experts emphasise that any work-related or personal comment that damages an employer’s reputation can constitute gross misconduct.
HR leaders should establish guidelines for private communications, educate employees on acceptable behaviour, and enforce codes of conduct to prevent reputational harm.