M&S tells Muslim staff they CAN refuse to serve customers buying alcohol or pork

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Theoretically could a catholic refuse to sell condoms, if M&S sell condoms that is.

Why would they?

[arcimedes]

Looks like they are backtracking according to the BBC. Surprise surprise!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25488259

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Why would they?

Many Catholics still may object to it, whatever the pope says.

Anyway it was a hypothetical question, aimed at whether the same criteria would be applied to other religions that had belief based objections or whether Islam was a special case.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by arcimedes

Looks like they are backtracking according to the BBC. Surprise surprise!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25488259

I expected this as i am sure it will hit there sales.

It doesn't look like they're backtracking to me. It looks like it was a mistake and the story has been misinterpreted. It seems that if a member of staff has a religious issue such as working Saturdays if they're Jewish or handling pork if they're Muslim then M&S will give them either hours or roles that prevent them from infringing their religious beliefs. So M&S wouldn't make Muslim staff serve alcohol or pork but they wouldn't then put them on the till to refuse customers but will instead move them to a department where the issue won't crop up...

Originally Posted by Pierre

Many Catholics still may object to it, whatever the pope says.

Anyway it was a hypothetical question, aimed at whether the same criteria would be applied to other religions that had belief based objections or whether Islam was a special case.

It's not a special case for Islam - as posted on the first page of this thread, from a link to the Telegraph.

An M&S spokesperson told the Telegraph: “We recognise that some of our employees practise religions that restrict the food or drink they can handle, or that mean they cannot work at certain times.

“M&S promotes an environment free from discrimination and so, where specific requests are made, we will always make reasonable adjustments to accommodate them, whilst ensuring high levels of customer service.”

The spokesperson said their 700 stores operated on a policy of tolerance, which was nonetheless applied on a case-by-case basis. He said it included allowing Christians not to work Sundays and Jews the same for Saturdays, for instance.

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Well they operate shops which means we can all easily show our view on this by taking our custom elsewhere plenty of cheaper alternatives. Personally I think if you apply for a job at a shop or supermarket you shouldn't get to pick or choose the aspect of the job you will or won't do and anything that might affect your ability to serve the public gets left at the door start of your shift. Has to be remembered of course that so far this is a managerial dictate we don't know if any Islamic staff have made an issue out of this. If this is a sign of things to come though this country is in even bigger trouble then many of us thought it already was.

That's why the story has broke ,because an Islamic checkout woman refused to handle a bottle of Champagne and the customer had to wait for another till to become available

http://news.sky.com/story/1186301/m-...lcohol-refusal

[Osem]

Originally Posted by martyh

That's why the story has broke ,because an Islamic checkout woman refused to handle a bottle of Champagne and the customer had to wait for another till to become available

http://news.sky.com/story/1186301/m-...lcohol-refusal

Why didn't another staff member just 'handle' the bottle for her?

When I'm served alcohol in a shop by an under 18 year old they just call a supervisor over to authorise the sale. Perhaps that's too simple a concept for some religious folks...

Originally Posted by Osem

Why didn't another staff member just 'handle' the bottle for her?

When I'm served alcohol in a shop by an under 18 year old they just call a supervisor over to authorise the sale. Perhaps that's too simple a concept for some religious folks...

I have no idea but it seems to me that in an attempt to please everyone M&S have tied themselves up in all sorts of knots .

[richard s]

Poor customer service..Shame on you M&S.

[adzii_nufc]

I can no longer shop at M&S, as part of my religion I'm not allowed to listen to bull.... When M&S provide bull free isle's for my religion then I will resume my business with them. It's completely against atheism.

When they all turn around and refuse to live in the UK because it does not bow down to Sharia Law... that will be a great day. Can't ever see that happening funnily enough. Muslims can't handle pork because it's a filthy animal or something right? Just change it to a filthier Animal like Jimmy Saville, problem solves itself.

I'm sad M&S are apologising over this, the right thing to do in modern day Britain would be to bow down to any demands a Muslim makes and remove pork from all of your stores nationwide. That would do us the favour of speeding up the meltdown.

[Stuart]

So, you refuse to shop somewhere where they do not force staff to sell things that they may find offensive (for whatever reason)?

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by adzii_nufc

I can no longer shop at M&S, as part of my religion I'm not allowed to listen to bull.... When M&S provide bull free isle's for my religion then I will resume my business with them. It's completely against atheism.

When they all turn around and refuse to live in the UK because it does not bow down to Sharia Law... that will be a great day. Can't ever see that happening funnily enough. Muslims can't handle pork because it's a filthy animal or something right? Just change it to a filthier Animal like Jimmy Saville, problem solves itself.

I'm sad M&S are apologising over this, the right thing to do in modern day Britain would be to bow down to any demands a Muslim makes and remove pork from all of your stores nationwide. That would do us the favour of speeding up the meltdown.

Here's Gola island. It's been bull free for as long as I or anyone can remember.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Stuart

So, you refuse to shop somewhere where they do not force staff to sell things that they may find offensive (for whatever reason)?

The staff members in question wouldn't get on very well at 'call me halal', they're quite happy to sell me a lump of ham, booze and a lottery ticket at any given time. How comes they can do it and tens of thousands of.pakistani shop keepers manage the same but these two attention seekers can't?

Frankly I would have just left and gone elsewhere.Not because I've anything against religious beliefs but because I refuse to have my time wasted..