Poland: IKEA director charged after firing employee who refused to participate in LGBT events

In May 2019, an IKEA worker published two Bible quotes in his workplace’s intranet after his employer instituted a day-long event entitled “solidarity with LGBT excluded persons day”. The man was fired for the posts.

The IKEA human resources director, who made the decision to fire the worker, has now been charged with restricting the employee’s rights and discriminating against their beliefs.

The IKEA director is currently facing a fine and incarceration of up to two years for discriminating against the IKEA employee.

According to Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski, the prosecutor’s office decision was “very good and expected” and Romanowski listed the articles of the Polish constitution which protect freedom of belief and their expression, as well as employee rights.