Veganism in the Work Place – Should it be Catered for?

When a 2020 employment tribunal confirmed that ethical veganism is protected under the Equality Act (2010), it was a turning point for the treatment of vegans in the workplace. As a protected belief, there has now been a flurry of advice issued that employers can use to help create a vegan-friendly workplace, reducing the discrimination that vegans face at work.

With this in mind, it’s clear that employers now need to carefully consider how they can best cater for vegans so that the workplace is more equitable and accessible for all. We’ve shared some great ideas to help you start making the changes that are needed.

Create Dedicated Plant Based Spaces

There are a number of quick fixes that help to show your changes in a positive light. The first thing that you could introduce is vegan only spaces in fridges and shelves where all the products are plant based and use no animal derivatives.

The great thing about doing this is not only showing respect to vegans but also helping everyone to see where the plant based and non-plant items are for them to eat. If you stock your work kitchen for your team, this will give everyone the opportunity to try new things and show their support to vegans who may have previously struggled to use the kitchen space.

Colour Code Utensils and Other Kitchen Items

Once you’ve introduced vegan food spaces, it is also important to think about labelling cutlery and utensils too, so that there is no accidental cross contamination. Many people say that doing this is taking things too far but when you consider that most restaurants have dedicated vengeance and vegetarian utensils for cooking, it’s clear that there is a need to follow suit.

You don’t need to go crazy and install a second kitchen, but making sure that everyone can access what they need without worrying will make your workplace a happier place to be.

Ensure Vegan-Friendly Food Preparation

If you buy food for the office and have a go-to caterer that everyone uses then it is important to check that they offer quality vegan options and that their vegan food items are made separately from non-vegan meals.

There has been a huge surge in people deciding to follow a plant-based diet for some or all of their meals and this has led to greater pressure being put on food providers to offer great vegan solutions. This means that finding a supplier that can meet the needs of everyone in your team is now easier than ever before!

Update Your Tea & Coffee Stations

If you have a tea and coffee station for your team to visit when they need a drink then have you taken the time to think about offering vegan options too? Coffee and tea are great choices but adding in vegan milk such as almond, soya or oat milk will ensure that everyone can enjoy their hot drinks the way they like them!

It’s also good to think about snacks that are vegan as well, from sweets and savoury items there are lots of great products that will ensure that everyone’s needs are met.

Consider Workwear and Issued Items

Plenty of workplaces have moved towards a more vegan-inclusive mindset but one area that may not have crossed your mind is workwear items and accessories. Clothes that are made from wool or safety boots and accessories that are made from leather all pose a serious problem for vegans in your workplace.

This doesn’t need to be an issue as there are so many great alternatives to choose from, ensuring that your team can wear their uniform with pride. It’s also important to remember that everyone’s needs are different and rather than creating a blanket policy that doesn’t think about the individual, it is better to speak to people and find out what works best for them, allowing you to really think about the needs of vegans in the workplace.

Don’t Forget Financial Needs

Changing food and workwear is a really clear indication that you are supportive of ethical veganism in your business, but there are other areas that will need further consideration too. If you offer a pension option to your employees then it could be time to think about whether the companies you are using are vegan friendly.

This means not taking contributions and investing them in companies that test on animals or produce animal-derived goods. There is a lot of work to be done in this area, but starting to discuss the changes that need to happen and mapping out a plan will help to show the vegans that work for you that you take their beliefs seriously.

Offer Training and Awareness Building

Implementing any type of change can cause unrest and stress in the workplace, something that everyone wants to avoid. Rather than just foisting change on your team, take the time to increase awareness of the changes that are coming and think about putting some training on for staff so that they are all aware of the changes and the reasoning behind them.

It’s also a good opportunity to explain the legal framework and provide staff with a clear system for redress should they encounter any negative or unfair treatment as a vegan – doing this will ensure that everyone is fully aware of the role they have to play in the changes that you are implementing.

Create a Vegan-Positive Environment

All these changes are great in theory but if you and your team implement them under duress then it could create a damaging and negative workplace environment. Rather than seeing changes as something that is being forced on you, take it as an opportunity to show your respect and support for vegans in the workplace.

This could be sharing positive messages about the changes, working with the entire team to get ideas on how to move forward together and creating normalcy around vegan choices, allowing vegans and non-vegans to enjoy the company’s new outlook.