Officeworks has issued an apology following an incident where a customer was denied service for requesting to have a page from a Jewish newspaper laminated. The incident, which occurred in March, was captured on video and shared by Victorian MP David Southwick on Aug. 1.
In the video, a female manager at Officeworks can be seen refusing to laminate a page from the Australian Jewish News newspaper, stating that she is “pro-Palestinian.” When questioned further, she reiterates that she has the right to deny jobs and does not feel comfortable due to her political views.
Officeworks managing director Sarah Hunter confirmed that the company learned of the incident in March and took appropriate disciplinary action against the employee involved. She emphasized that the views expressed by the team member do not reflect Officeworks’ stance and that the company does not discriminate against customers based on political views, religious beliefs, gender, sexuality, or race.
The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) expressed deep concern over the incident, with CEO Robert Gregory calling it a form of anti-Semitism. He urged Officeworks to take immediate action and terminate the employee responsible for the discriminatory behavior.
Overall, Officeworks has acknowledged the incident, taken steps to address the issue internally, and reaffirmed its commitment to providing respectful service to all customers regardless of their backgrounds.
