A Christian factory worker has won more than £22,000 for religious discrimination after being fired for refusing to take off a crucifix necklace. Jevgenijs Kovalkovs felt wearing the cross - which was a gift from his mother - close to the chest signified his 'commitment to his belief'.
But he was asked to take it off by his line manager as she felt it was deemed a 'hazard' at the chicken wholesalers where he worked, an employment tribunal heard. Mr Kovalkovs, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, was later seen wearing it again at the factory but refused to take off the jewellery which had a 'deep and profound meaning' to him.
He was then fired on the spot for disobeying orders. He sued the company and has now been awarded £22,074.68 after the tribunal found the policy and its application was 'indirectly discriminatory'.
