Manifesting religion at work: the appeal in Wasteney v East London NHS Foundation Trust

Background

Victoria Wasteney worked for East London NHS Foundation Trust as Head of Forensic Occupational Therapy, mainly at a secure mental health services facility for patients admitted under the Mental Health Act 1983. She had been given a final written warning by the Trust for three charges of misconduct – praying with EN, a Muslim junior colleague of Pakistani heritage, giving her a book about a Muslim woman who converts to Christianity, and inviting her to church events – though that had subsequently been reduced on appeal to a first written warning. Before the Employment Tribunal, in Wasteney v East London NHS Foundation Trust [2015] ET 3200658/2014, Ms Wasteney, who describes herself as a “born-again Christian”, had claimed unlawful discrimination and harassment because of religion or belief arising out of the disciplinary proceedings. Her claim was dismissed: we noted the earlier proceedings here. She appealed. Continue reading