M&S Faces Boycott As It Lets Muslim Staff Refuse To Sell Alcohol Or Pork

Apr 27, 2012
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Customers at Marks & Spencer were outraged when a Muslim worker refused to serve customers who wanted to buy alcohol or pork.

One shopper said: 'I had one bottle of champagne, and the lady, who was wearing a headscarf, was very apologetic but said she could not serve me. She told me to wait until another member of staff was available
This is just wrong. What about Sikh and Hindu employees who can't eat meat or have alcohol? They don't complain but do the job and it's not like they're being forced to consume them.

Would they allow this for a Christian refusing to serve gay people or a Jewish employee not wanting to handle pork?

Many customers were furious over this and have rightfully threatened to boycott the store. If employees don't want to handle pork, alcohol or other meat then don't work there.

Were the customers right to be angry and threaten a boycott? Should the employee be punished and not get special privileges?

The good news out of this is the customers fought back and threatened a boycott. Hopefully this doesn't happen again but I have my doubts.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...fuse-serve-customers-buying-alcohol-pork.html
 

brycejones

Lifer
Oct 18, 2005
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If its against the company policy then fire the employee problem solved. If the employee doesn't want to sell alcohol or pork then the employee needs to find employment elsewhere.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
85,632
50,852
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Incorruptible seriously has to be a parody account.

People threatening to boycott A&E over an employee acting out on his Christian beliefs? TERRIBLE.

People threatening to boycott Marks & Spencer over a Muslim acting out on his religious beliefs? FABULOUS.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
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If its against the company policy then fire the employee problem solved. If the employee doesn't want to sell alcohol or pork then the employee needs to find employment elsewhere.

Company policy there is not to put the employee in a position where they have to do that.

Either the employee didn't make her position clear to management or management didn't listen.
 

Screech

Golden Member
Oct 20, 2004
1,202
6
81
Incorruptible seriously has to be a parody account.

People threatening to boycott A&E over an employee acting out on his Christian beliefs? TERRIBLE.

People threatening to boycott Marks & Spencer over a Muslim acting out on his religious beliefs? FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABULOUS.

Fixed. ;)

On topic: yeah that's stupid. If your creed prevents you from serving people in some capacity then perhaps that job is not the one for you.
 

rommelrommel

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2002
4,410
3,183
146
Incorruptible seriously has to be a parody account.

People threatening to boycott A&E over an employee acting out on his Christian beliefs? TERRIBLE.

People threatening to boycott Marks & Spencer over a Muslim acting out on his religious beliefs? FABULOUS.

Did the duck dynasty guy refuse to sell tshirts to gay people?

They obviously aren't equivilant. He made a statement. This lady not only refuses to serve customers based on religious beliefs, but her company policy allows her to.

Frankly I don't have a problem with either, let the market decide.
 

brycejones

Lifer
Oct 18, 2005
27,648
26,746
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Incorruptible seriously has to be a parody account.

People threatening to boycott A&E over an employee acting out on his Christian beliefs? TERRIBLE.

People threatening to boycott Marks & Spencer over a Muslim acting out on his religious beliefs? FABULOUS.

Yeah, the hypocrisy is strong.
 
Apr 27, 2012
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If its against the company policy then fire the employee problem solved. If the employee doesn't want to sell alcohol or pork then the employee needs to find employment elsewhere.

Glad to see we agree :D

There is no way the company would have a policy allowing this sort of BS. This isn't how you treat a customer and humiliate them. The customer needs to be treated with respect and the employee should be fired.
 

werepossum

Elite Member
Jul 10, 2006
29,873
463
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I would not patronize Marks & Spencer (whatever that is) based on that policy. However, I have no problems with A&E not wanting its talent to make remarks that piss off other employees or potential viewers of other A&E shows, even though I did not find his remarks remarkable or offensive.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
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Glad to see we agree :D

There is no way the company would have a policy allowing this sort of BS. This isn't how you treat a customer and humiliate them. The customer needs to be treated with respect and the employee should be fired.

The company absolutely has that policy.

They just move you to a position off the tills (or don't put you there in the first place).
 

werepossum

Elite Member
Jul 10, 2006
29,873
463
126
Glad to see we agree :D

There is no way the company would have a policy allowing this sort of BS. This isn't how you treat a customer and humiliate them. The customer needs to be treated with respect and the employee should be fired.
In fairness, apparently the employee was "very apologetic", so she did try (within the confines of her faith) to not humiliate the customer. I agree completely that if she cannot in good faith sell what they sell, she should find other employment, and I would avoid Marks & Spencer for putting me as a potential customer in the untouchable category, but I don't think you can fault the lady's behavior.

It's also worth pointing out that similar things can happen for non-faith reasons, such as a cashier who is too young or prohibited by conditions of parole to sell you alcohol. I would greatly prefer Muslims acclimating to American culture than American culture bending to Muslim sensibilities, but this is not THAT big a deal.
 
Apr 27, 2012
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I would not patronize Marks & Spencer (whatever that is) based on that policy. However, I have no problems with A&E not wanting its talent to make remarks that piss off other employees or potential viewers of other A&E shows, even though I did not find his remarks remarkable or offensive.

I agree. But what happened in England was much worse since they actually refused service to a customer. Hopefully the employee is fired and the appropriate measures are taken so this doesn't happen again.
 
Feb 16, 2005
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I agree. But what happened in England was much worse since they actually refused service to a customer. Hopefully the employee is fired and the appropriate measures are taken so this doesn't happen again.

other than fired, what would 'appropriate actions' be in your fucked up head? You're as subtle as an elephant with explosive diarrhea.
 
Apr 27, 2012
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The company absolutely has that policy.

They just move you to a position off the tills (or don't put you there in the first place).

How about no pandering in the first place. It's a good thing the customers rejected this nonsense. What she did was wrong because she refused service and humiliated the customer.

I am a vegetarian so should I be able to work in a meat shop and whine I can't handle meat?
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
38,198
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I don't see why a Muslim can't sell alcohol or pork, they aren't the owners of the store. Accept the fact that others consume products that your religion doesn't allow you to, and move on.

If M&S allows they're Muslim employees to not be involved in the sale of these products, that's fine. But don't put them in a position where those same Muslim employees have to tell the customer "No sorry, can't sell you that".

Do the Muslim employees also not stock the shelves with alcohol or pork products?

As far as the boycott goes, oh well...consumers make their choice with their wallets, if your store policy turns people off, and it costs the store money...whatever. If it's an acceptable loss to you, then good for you.
 

Remobz

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2005
2,564
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In fairness, apparently the employee was "very apologetic", so she did try (within the confines of her faith) to not humiliate the customer. I agree completely that if she cannot in good faith sell what they sell, she should find other employment, and I would avoid Marks & Spencer for putting me as a potential customer in the untouchable category, but I don't think you can fault the lady's behavior.

It's also worth pointing out that similar things can happen for non-faith reasons, such as a cashier who is too young or prohibited by conditions of parole to sell you alcohol. I would greatly prefer Muslims acclimating to American culture than American culture bending to Muslim sensibilities, but this is not THAT big a deal.

You would be shocked at how many Muslims prefer to live under sharia law in a Western society.

Let me break it down to you all here........ANY place whereby Muslims gain a STRONG foothold in Western Societies they will eventually push for some sort of sharia law (in different stages).

Let me ask you all this question....How "Western" can a Muslim be if he or she fully practices sharia law? And of those persons practicing it how many of those are far removed from radical Islam?
 

BUnit1701

Senior member
May 1, 2013
853
1
0
Incorruptible seriously has to be a parody account.

People threatening to boycott A&E over an employee acting out on his Christian beliefs? TERRIBLE.

People threatening to boycott Marks & Spencer over a Muslim acting out on his religious beliefs? FABULOUS.

I dont think anyone said that individuals choosing to boycott A&E was unacceptable, the issue was a minority special interest group convincing A&E to take action that the overwhelming majority of viewers did not agree with. Somehow I find it hard to believe that a large majority of shoppers support having help at the store who can't help you.
 

werepossum

Elite Member
Jul 10, 2006
29,873
463
126
You would be shocked at how many Muslims prefer to live under sharia law in a Western society.

Let me break it down to you all here........ANY place whereby Muslims gain a STRONG foothold in Western Societies they will eventually push for some sort of sharia law (in different stages).

Let me ask you all this question....How "Western" can a Muslim be if he or she fully practices sharia law? And of those persons practicing it how many of those are far removed from radical Islam?
Agreed, but so far America seems to be dodging that. Michigan is fairly heavily Muslim in some cities and I don't believe there are strong Sharia movements, except for Sharia courts (with which I firmly disagree but which are essentially binding arbitration limited to family matters and misdemeanors and which require agreement by both parties.)
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
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How about no pandering in the first place. It's a good thing the customers rejected this nonsense. What she did was wrong because she refused service and humiliated the customer.

I am a vegetarian so should I be able to work in a meat shop and whine I can't handle meat?

There's no pandering.

When you work there there's agreed things that you'll do and stuff that you won't.

This is agreed by the employee and employer.

They obviously asked her to do something that wasn't agreed on.

What management did was put her in a position that she hadn't agreed to.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,167
1,638
126
Customers at Marks & Spencer were outraged when a Muslim worker refused to serve customers who wanted to buy alcohol or pork.


This is just wrong. What about Sikh and Hindu employees who can't eat meat or have alcohol? They don't complain but do the job and it's not like they're being forced to consume them.

Would they allow this for a Christian refusing to serve gay people or a Jewish employee not wanting to handle pork?

Many customers were furious over this and have rightfully threatened to boycott the store. If employees don't want to handle pork, alcohol or other meat then don't work there.

Were the customers right to be angry and threaten a boycott? Should the employee be punished and not get special privileges?

The good news out of this is the customers fought back and threatened a boycott. Hopefully this doesn't happen again but I have my doubts.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...fuse-serve-customers-buying-alcohol-pork.html

In Illinois, people under the age of 21 can not ring up purchases for liquor/alcohol. Essentially, if you want to buy a 6 pack of beer at the grocery store, and if the girl/boy working the register is under 21, then they call for a manager or somebody over the age of 21 to complete the transaction.

I suspect many states are like that in the US.

I think that people who are diabolically opposed to the sale of Pork or Liquor should perhaps not work at places where those products are sold...

That said, I have a Muslim friend who owned a gas station, and as far as I know, they sold beer and pork rinds, etc ...
 
Apr 27, 2012
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There's no pandering.

When you work there there's agreed things that you'll do and stuff that you won't.

This is agreed by the employee and employer.

They obviously asked her to do something that wasn't agreed on.

What management did was put her in a position that she hadn't agreed to.

It is pandering though.

What did she expect was going to happen? She works at a store where they serve alcohol and meat.

Also the customer should never be humiliated like that and she could have cost them a lot of money.
 

Remobz

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2005
2,564
37
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It is pandering though.

What did she expect was going to happen? She works at a store where they serve alcohol and meat.

Also the customer should never be humiliated like that and she could have cost them a lot of money.

Exactly....where does she live? The middle East?

It is England for goodness sakes!!! A European Country whereby pork (Christmas ham for example) and alcohol are COMMON sales during Christmas times.

I have seen Muslims sell alcohol before at corner stores. If they have adapted for Western society then why not her? She some special sort of woman?
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
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It is pandering though.

No. It's sticking to an agreed arrangement.

What did she expect was going to happen? She works at a store where they serve alcohol and meat.

I'd imagine that she expected to do the things that she was employed to do.

Also the customer should never be humiliated like that and she could have cost them a lot of money.

Which is purely management's fault for asking her to do something against policy.
 
Feb 16, 2005
14,061
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Glad to see we agree :D

There is no way the company would have a policy allowing this sort of BS. This isn't how you treat a customer and humiliate them. The customer needs to be treated with respect and the employee should be fired.

Yea, this sounded INCREDIBLY humiliating. I'm surprised they didn't go home and slit their wrists after this encounter with an evil moooslim
One shopper said: 'I had one bottle of champagne, and the lady, who was wearing a headscarf, was very apologetic but said she could not serve me. She told me to wait until another member of staff was available.

Let me double quote this as it needs to be seen again for the sheer monstrous behavior of that mooslim scum
the lady, who was wearing a headscarf, was very apologetic but said she could not serve me. She told me to wait until another member of staff was available.

ASKED TO WAIT???! OMFG... AND... AND... BEING APOLOGETIC AND POLITE?!?!? THAT BITCH!!!


pffft... typical indigestible thread, usual bullshit