Officeworks has hired a top law firm to respond to allegations that one of its managers discriminated against a Jewish man by refusing him service.
The pro-Palestine worker from Elsternwick, east of Melbourne, was filmed on March 4 refusing to laminate an article from the Australian Jewish News.
The client, who was wearing a kippah at the time of the incident, wanted to laminate a piece titled “The Indomitable Spirit of Our People.”
Renowned religious leader Rabbi Daniel Rabbin wrote the article, which featured a photo of a group holding Australian and Israeli flags.
The manager told the man she would not laminate the piece because it was “pro-Palestine” and she felt “uncomfortable” with its content.
She is understood to be refusing to offer a personal apology to the Jewish man. Herald of the Sun It was reported on Sunday that the mediation process will be further intensified.
Despite calls for the worker’s dismissal, her employment was not terminated.
Instead, the manager was transferred to another Officeworks store.
A pro-Palestine Officeworks worker (pictured) in Elsternwick, in Melbourne’s east, was filmed on 4 March refusing to laminate an Australian Jewish News article.
Instead of a settlement between the office supplies giant and the Jewish man, Officeworks has hired lawyers from Herbert Smith Freehills, a well-known international law firm.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal is arranging a hearing date.
The Jewish man believed that if the worker regretted her actions, she would have already apologized.
“It appears that by continuing to employ this individual, despite the fact that he has had at least two anti-Semitic incidents in the space of just a few months, Officeworks condones this type of illegal behaviour,” he said.
Officeworks has hired a renowned international law firm to respond to allegations of discrimination (file image)
The man claimed that Officeworks had violated the Equal Employment Opportunity Act by denying him service.
“This will really be a battle between David and Goliath,” he said.
Officeworks staff are now understood to be receiving “training and education” relating to discrimination.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Officeworks for comment.