Officeworks staffer had anti-Jewish record

The Officeworks staff member who refused service to a Jewish man because she was ‘pro-Palestinian’ was involved in an anti-Semitic incident just weeks before a second incident.

Officeworks said 'our policies were incorrectly applied and in accordance with our Officeworks’ policies, the laminating should have taken place'.

The Officeworks staff member who refused service to a Jewish man because she was “pro-Palestinian” was involved in an anti-Semitic incident just weeks before – and was scheduled to visit the Melbourne Holocaust Museum as a disciplinary measure the next day.

It is understood the first incident involved a Jewish woman who was told on January 28 it was “impossible” to print the pictures in the size she wanted “because the Jews had used all the paper”.

The extraordinary revelations mean the team member was involved in not one, but two anti-Semitic incidents and still been retained as an employee.

On Thursday, The Australian revealed footage of the staff member refusing to laminate a Jewish newspaper on March 4, with the Jewish customer taking Officeworks to an anti-discrimination tribunal over the confrontation and senior Officeworks executives and staff set to undergo an anti-Semitism awareness course run by peak body the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

The second incident follows a January 28 incident, which resulted in a “disciplinary process”, including a planned visit to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum for the team member, her area manager and regional HR manager.

However, the day before the 2½-hour museum visit, on March 5, the second incident occurred. It is understood Officeworks was not made aware of the second incident until March 13.

In a statement late on Friday night, Officeworks said the employee was “profoundly impacted” by her visit to the museum.

“The visit to the museum had a profound impact on the team member, resulting in their understanding and realisation of the gravity and impact of their actions,” a spokeswoman said. “The remorse was reflected in the disciplinary outcome for the team member concerned.

“We have been open and transparent, briefing the Jewish community leadership and the federal government via the Special Envoy for Social Cohesion on the incidents, our disciplinary process and our efforts to rebuild trust.

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

‘Pro-Palestinian’ Officeworks staffer.

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said Officeworks had many questions to answer. “At what point does an employee’s discriminatory behaviour and rhetoric get them dismissed?” Dr Abramovich asked.

“It is now clear that the unmistakeable message that this company is sending to the Jewish community is that at Officeworks if one engages in malicious slurs about a particular group, or treats people differently because they are Jewish, Zionist or support Israel they will keep their job.

“It is beyond words that this person is still working at Officeworks and that no one at management has even bothered to ensure that she apologises personally to the (second) victim.”

The man refused service in the second incident also slammed the company’s handling of his matter, and declared he is proceeding with anti-discrimination legal action.

The kippah-wearing man, who has asked to remain anonymous due to fears of retribution, says he still sees “no alternative’’ to proceeding with his claim because he is being treated as “just a dissatisfied customer’’ instead of a victim of discrimination, and that the woman is still employed – despite there being two incidents.

The man who was refused service by an Officeworks in Melbourne.

Prior to the first incident being uncovered by this masthead, Officeworks said the staff member had been moved to a different store after being given a “final warning’’, and attributed the incident to “not malice but ignorance’’.

On Friday, the man slammed management’s handling of the matter. “To make matters worse, Officeworks is effectively telling me that the employee did the wrong thing but that it was a one-off and it’s not willing to take any responsibility for it,” he said.

The Wesfarmers-owned company is attempting to manage the fallout, as customers make online pledges to never shop at the chain again. External crisis communication specialists have also been called in to alleviate the damage.

Managing director Sarah Hunter said in a statement on Friday that in November 2023 she had signed an open letter denouncing anti-Semitism, and that the employee had been required to visit the Holocaust Museum.

“We are clear that there is no place for discrimination, intolerance or racism in our team … Again, I express my disappointment and regret that the incident occurred … We apologised to the customer at the time, and I … repeat our apology to him and extend it to the broader community for the hurt and upset the incident has caused,” she said.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said on Thursday the matter was “disturbing” and that the behaviour could not become normalised in society.

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TIMELINE

January 28 – First incident

February 28 – Visit to Melbourne Holocaust Museum scheduled

March 4 – Second incident occurred (Officeworks were not informed or aware)

March 5 – Team member, Area Manager and Regional HR manager visited the Melbourne Holocaust Museum for 2.5 hour visit

March 5 – Team member went on the record saying it had a profound impact on them and wrote an apology to customer involved in first incident

March 13 – Officeworks is alerted to second incident receiving correspondence from customer involved.

March 15 – Officeworks responds to customer and apologises

August 1 – Officeworks becomes aware of video footage of second incident and receives VCAT Equal Opportunity Complaint lodgement notification