How Brexit could lead to employment disputes – and divorce

Employers are facing a wave of compensation claims from staff who feel bullied for their views on Brexit.

Consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is advising four companies in which pro-Leave staff have lodged legal complaints about hostile remarks, harassment and "cultural bullying" from Remain-supporting colleagues.

"Companies who backed one side or the other during the referendum could be more at risk of legal action from staff who took the opposing view and have missed out on promotion," Ed Stacey, the head of employment law at PwC, told the Financial Times.

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"Employees have felt differently from how they may do during a general election because there has been so much intervention from employers."

Under the Equality Act, employers can be taken to tribunals by workers who feel they are suffering discrimination or harassment for their "philosophical beliefs", a clause that came into force five years ago - as the result of an EU directive.

But Sarah Henchoz, an employment partner at law firm Allen & Overy, said employees would be hard-pressed to prove any alleged discrimination meets this definition.

"They would need to show that their support of Brexit is more than simply a view that this is the best outcome but a 'genuinely held belief' - for example, something that is reflected in their day-to-day views and way of living," she said.

There have also been reports from marriage counsellors that Brexit is also causing tensions at home.

Relate, the counselling service, has compiled advice for couples who may be "clashing in the aftermath of the vote because they took different sides in the referendum", says the Daily Telegraph.

Elaine Taylor, a counsellor in Cambridge, said: "Every one of my clients mentioned Brexit as an issue in the sessions that followed the vote. It wasn’t the reason people were coming in, but it added to their stress and put more pressure on relationships."