During the festive period the Manchester Employment Tribunal (in the case of X v Y) has ruled that a fear of catching coronavirus is not a protected belief for the purposes of Equality Act 2010 legislation, on the basis that an employee's fear of physical harm and views on how best to reduce or avoid that harm do not meet the legal criteria required for a protected 'philosophical' belief.

It was only a matter of time before this particular legal issue was tested (and it may well be appealed or come before the Tribunals again) though the judgment is not, in our view, surprising!

The Employment Tribunals and appellate courts are likely to see a wide range of Covid-related cases during 2022, as the claims issued in 2020 and 2021 start to make their way through to final hearings.