Shocking video has shown the moment an Officeworks manager refused to laminate a Jewish man’s newspaper because she is ‘pro-Palestine’.
The customer, who was wearing a yarmulke at the time of the incident, took an article from the Australian Jewish News newspaper to an Officeworks store at Elsternwick, in Melbourne’s east, on March 4.
The piece was titled, ‘The indomitable spirit of our people’, and featured a photo of a group holding Australian and Israeli flags.
After seeing the newspaper, the Officeworks manager refused to serve the Jewish man, stating: ‘I’m pro-Palestine.’
She claimed Officeworks’ policies gave her the right to deny the man service based on her political beliefs. Officeworks has since clarified that is incorrect.
‘I’m not comfortable proceeding with it (the job),’ the manager told the man.
The customer asked: ‘Maybe there’s another staff member that’s comfortable doing it.’
An Officeworks worker refused to laminate the page of the Australian Jewish News newspaper because she was ‘pro Palestine’
The worker replied: ‘You can wait for Maddie and see if she’s comfortable doing it, but I know I’m not.
‘I’m pro-Palestine and, for political reasons, I’m not comfortable.’
The customer questioned whether Officeworks’ policies gave workers the discretion to refuse service based on their personal beliefs.
Instead of responding, the worker asked if she was being recorded by the man and threatened to call the police if he did not leave the store.
The customer has since lodged a complaint with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, claiming Officeworks discriminated against his race and religion by refusing him service.
‘This incident has caused my family and me significant distress and has raised concerns about whether it is safe to visit our local stores and conduct our usual activities,’ he said.
‘None of the staff intervened during the situation with the manager, and the embarrassment and harassment we experienced have left a lasting impact.’
Officeworks has since apologised, but will not fire the manager, instead sending her for ‘education and training’, including a visit to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.
‘We can confirm that we have taken this matter extremely seriously and, since the matter occurred, have investigated internally and taken the appropriate action to ensure this doesn’t take place again,’ they said.
‘In this particular incident, our policies were incorrectly applied and in accordance with our Officeworks’ policies, the laminating should have taken place.
‘Additionally, we have provided ongoing training and education to our team members so they are aware of the legal requirements in respect of discrimination and of Officeworks’ policies and procedures.’
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, slammed the worker.
‘Who would have thought that in Melbourne 2024, people would be denied a service because of their faith and for Israel?’ he said.
‘We should have zero tolerance for this kind of profiling and indefensible prejudice.
‘No one should be singled out or denied service because of their ethnic origin, the country they support, gender, creed, faith, or sexual orientation.
‘Being different should be a cause for celebration, not a liability that makes one subject to bias.’
Dr Abramovich said the incident was a ‘stain’ on Melbourne’s reputation as a multicultural and welcoming city.
‘It is time for Officeworks to not just talk the talk but walk the walk by sending the unmistakable message that Jewish Australians and anyone supporting Israel are welcome in their stores,’ he said.
‘I urge the Human Rights Commission and the government to condemn this unacceptable conduct.’
She claimed Officeworks’ policies gave her the right to deny the man service based on her political beliefs. Officeworks has since clarified that is incorrect
The worker threatened to call police after realising the man was recording her and asked him to leave the store
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk