An Officeworks manager who refused to serve a Jewish customer had also been involved in another anti-Semitic incident a few weeks earlier.
The manager first drew outrage when she was filmed refusing to serve a Jewish customer at an Officeworks store in Elsternwick, Melbourne’s east, on March 4.
The customer, who wore a yarmulke, wanted to laminate an article from the Australian Jewish News.
The piece was entitled ‘The Indomitable Spirit of Our People’ and featured a photo of a group holding the Australian and Israeli flags.
After reading the newspaper, the Officeworks manager refused to help, saying, “I am pro-Palestine.”
The employee reportedly later apologized and visited the Holocaust Museum in Melbourne to improve her understanding of Jewish issues.
However, it can now be revealed that she had also been involved in a separate anti-Semitic incident just weeks earlier, on January 28. The Australian reported.
The manager reportedly told a Jewish woman that it was “impossible” to print photos in the size she wanted, “because the Jews had used all the paper.”
The manager first attracted outrage when she was filmed refusing to serve a Jewish customer at an Officeworks store in Elsternwick, Melbourne’s east, on March 4
She was commissioned by Officeworks to visit the museum, which coincidentally took place the day after the second incident in March.
The customer involved in the latest scandal filed a complaint with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, alleging that Officeworks discriminated against him on the grounds of his race and religion by refusing him service.
“This incident has caused my family and me great sadness and has left us questioning whether it is safe to visit our local shops and carry out our usual activities,” he said.
‘No staff member intervened during the situation with the manager. The shame and intimidation we experienced has had a lasting impact.’
Officeworks has since apologised and said they ‘take this matter extremely seriously’ but will not be firing the manager.
“In this particular incident, our policies were not applied correctly. The lamination should have been done according to Officeworks policies,” an Officeworks spokesperson said.
‘In addition, we provide ongoing training and education to our team members so that they are aware of legal requirements regarding discrimination and Officeworks’ policies and procedures.’
Home Secretary Tony Burke has since spoken out on the issue, telling Sky News on Sunday that residents should not be “denied access to services because of who they are”. He also said he had spoken to Jillian Segal, the government’s envoy on antisemitism.
He confirmed that Ms Segal had addressed the matter “very directly” and that the employee had been given a “formal, final warning”.
“When I look at the process that Officeworks has gone through, I see the change in the view of that particular employee about the circumstances and her deep understanding and the good work that has been done by the envoy on antisemitism,” Burke said.
The customer involved in the March incident filed a complaint with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal alleging that Officeworks discriminated on the grounds of his race and religion by refusing him service
“I think that despite everything and thanks to the horrific video that we saw, we have actually taken a step forward in the long process that is so important: eradicating anti-Semitism.”
Daily Mail Australia contacted Officeworks for comment on the initial incident.
Footage from the second incident shows the Officeworks manager explaining that she can refuse service to a customer due to store policy.
Officeworks has clarified that this is incorrect.
“I don’t feel comfortable going through with this (the job),” the manager told the man.
The customer asked, “Maybe there is another employee who would be more comfortable doing this.”
The employee responded, “You can wait for (another employee) to do it and see if she likes it, but I know I don’t.”
“I am pro-Palestine and I don’t feel comfortable with that for political reasons.”
The customer questioned whether Officeworks’ policy allowed employees to refuse service based on their personal beliefs.
It is shameful that when asked to explain her actions, the employee could not find the right words to justify her position.
“We have the right to refuse jobs because I don’t feel comfortable continuing with that,” she said.
‘Israel and Judaism can be completely separate.