Officeworks has hired a top legal firm to respond to claims one of its managers discriminated against a Jewish man by refusing him service.
The pro-Palestine worker in Elsternwick, east Melbourne, was filmed on March 4 refusing to laminate an article from the Australian Jewish News.
The customer, who was wearing a yarmulke at the time of the incident, was seeking to laminate a piece titled, ‘The indomitable spirit of our people’.
Famous religious leader Rabbi Daniel Rabbin wrote the article, which featured a photo of a group holding Australian and Israeli flags.
The female manager told the man she would not laminate the piece because she was ‘pro-Palestine’ and ‘uncomfortable’ with its contents.
It’s understood she is refusing to offer the Jewish man a personal apology, the Herald Sun reported on Sunday, further intensifying the mediation process.
Despite calls for the worker to be fired, her employment was not terminated.
Instead, the manager was relocated to another Officeworks store.
A pro-Palestine Officeworks worker (pictured) in Elsternwick in Melbourne’s east was filmed on March 4 refusing to laminate an article from the Australian Jewish News
In lieu of an agreement between the office supplies giant and Jewish man, Officeworks has hired lawyers from Herbert Smith Freehills – a renowned international firm.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal is arranging a hearing date.
The Jewish man believed if the worker regretted her actions, she would have already apologised by now.
‘It’s seems that by Officeworks continuing to employ the individual, despite her having at least two anti-Semitic incidents within the span of only a few months, that Officeworks condones this kind of unlawful behaviour,’ he said.
Officeworks has hired a renowned international law firm to respond to the discrimination allegations (stock image)
The man claimed that Officeworks had breached the Equal Opportunity Act by refusing him service.
‘This will truly be a David and Goliath battle,’ he said.
It’s understood Officeworks staff are now undergoing ‘training and education’ related to discrimination.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Officeworks for comment.
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