Officeworks engages top law firm ahead of VCAT battle with Jewish customer

Officeworks has engaged lawyers from a top international law firm to respond to discrimination allegations after a Jewish man was refused service by a “pro-Palestine” worker at its Elsternwick store.

Officeworks has engaged lawyers from a top tier firm to respond to discrimination allegations after a Jewish man was refused service by a pro-Palestine worker for “political reasons”.

The printing giant is set to be dragged into a major legal battle over a shocking incident at its Elsternwick store in March.

Extraordinary footage released earlier this month shows a customer requesting to laminate a copy of an Australian Jewish News article, written by respected religious leader Rabbi Daniel Rabbin.

But the man, who filmed the incident on his phone, is denied service by an employee because she is “pro-Palestine”.

The female staff member, who identifies herself as a manager, tells the customer she is “not comfortable” proceeding with the job for “political reasons”.

‘Pro-Palestinian’ Officeworks staffer refuses to laminate Jewish newspaper for kippah-wearing man at the Elsternwick store in Victoria.

The man can then be heard asking what’s “political about that?”.

“I’m pro-Palestine,” she says.

“That’s OK, you’re here to do a job of laminating, not take a political (position),” he responds.

But the woman claims she has a “right to deny jobs”.

The Herald Sun understands the worker responsible for the outburst, which was later described as “disappointing” by Officeworks, has refused to apologise personally.

It’s also alleged the woman told another Jewish customer in January that her request was “impossible … because the Jews had used all the paper”.

Despite calls for her to be fired, she has remained in her job but has been moved to a different store.

In what has been described as a “David and Goliath” legal battle, Officeworks has now brought in lawyers from leading international law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills.

The Herald Sun understands that no agreement has been reached, with VCAT currently arranging a date for a hearing.

A customer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Herald Sun if the employee was remorseful for her “anti-Semitic behaviour” she would have apologised.

“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.

He is alleging that Officeworks breached the Equal Opportunity Act by refusing him service.

“This will truly be a David and Goliath battle,” he said.

Officeworks refused to answer multiple questions about the tribunal case.

Managing Director Sarah Hunter said staff members were undergoing “training and education” related to discrimination.