Balancing Workers´ Rights On Discrimination Grounds

A fascinating case has emerged where the Prohibition on discrimination on the grounds of sexuality has clashed with the Rule prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of religion.

In this case a Christian Registrar had refused to perform civil partnership ceremonies for same sex couples because she considered them to be against God's law. She had held this position long before the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into being. When it did, she began swapping shifts with colleagues so that she did not have to perform civil partnership ceremonies for same sex couples.

She was disciplined after the relationship with her employers deteriorated and she continued to refuse to carry out civil partnerships. The Council, however, felt that this breached their policy entitled "dignity for all".