Outcry forces British Airways to review uniform policy

British Airways has announced that it will carry out a review of its uniform policy following criticisms over its refusal to allow a Christian worker to wear a cross over her uniform.

Willie Walsh, the airline's chief executive, defended the uniform policy as consistent with industry standards and non-discriminatory but signalled that the outcry had swayed BA.

He said the airline's review of the policy would examine ways in which symbols of faith could be worn openly while remaining consistent with the "British Airways brand" and compliant with employment legislation. One option, he suggested, would be to let staff wear religious symbols as lapel badges.

As Workplace Law previously reported, Eweida claims that, after undergoing training on respecting and understanding other people's beliefs, she was effectively "forced" to take unpaid leave after refusing to conceal the cross she wore. She lost her first appeal over BA’s decision last week; her second appeal against the ban is due to be heard next week. Meanwhile she remains on unpaid leave.

Announcing the climbdown, Walsh said:

"The review will examine ways in which our policy will be adapted to allow symbols of faith to be worn openly while remaining consistent with the brand and compliant with legislation."