[Vicky.]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...-and-pork.html

Muslim staff working for Marks & Spencer have been given permission to refuse to serve customers buying alcohol or pork products

Its policy decision has highlighted a split among the big food retailers over whether religious staff should be excused certain jobs.

In contrast to M&S, Sainsbury’s said it had issued official guidelines that stated there was no reason why staff who did not drink alcohol or eat pork for religious reasons could not handle the goods.

The advice followed consultations with religious groups, said a spokesman.

Tesco said it treated each case on its merits, but said it “made no sense” to employ staff on a till who refused to touch certain items for religious reasons.

What on earth do we think of this?

I think its ****ing ridiculous. If you wont serve some of the stuff a shop sells, dont work there.

Also, its going to make people pick a till based on the ethnicity of the checkout person..surely? I'm sure all muslims wont be this anal...but if theres a chance you are going to have to queue, then queue again, you will go for a checkout operator that doesn't 'look' muslim (as much as one can look a religion..) so you only have to queue once.. wont you?

Just seems utter madness. Though I expect if those refusing to handle alcohol and pork were sacked for refusing to do their job,. it would be classed as discrimination..

Sainsburys (and tesco to a lesser extent, since it seems they still look at it as 'case by case')has the right idea at least. Noone is forcing anyone to drink alcohol or eat pork. So whats the bloody problem?