[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?

[Vicky.]

Also opens up a lot of other questions..would it be acceptable for a vegetarian staff member to refuse to handle any meat? How about someone on a diet, would it be ok for them to refuse to sell chocolate?

I actually can't get over how stupid this is

[Z]

This is a huge can of worms. Stupid decision by M&S. Good job I never shop there for food.

[Vicky.]

Morrisons do it too by the looks of it

Mind I have ever been refused service there and I buy a lot of bacon and stuff. I'm guessing its just a couple of twats who have refused, as most people would just be happy to have a job, not moaning and making a fuss about having to touch the packaging of certain items.

[Tom4784]

It's stupid and patronising to Muslims.

[Z]

Such a stupid ruling. It's just encouraging discrimination against the 99% to satisfy the 1%.

[smeagol]

if they wont serve the product or handle it. they should be sacked, go work down a mine or become a lolipop man lol . why would any company employ someone who cant do the job. unless they employ based on religion and skin not skill or attitude .

[fingers]

Total PC Madness,
the shape of things to come?

What next? Roman Catholics refusing to sell Condoms?

[Livia]

How bloody ridiculous. I worked as a waitress at uni, I served people pork. If it offends people to do a particular part of a job on religious grounds, don't take them on in the first place. It's just daft.

[fingers]

Will M&S set up Kosher Tills staffed ONLY by Jewish staff where only Kosher items can be processed?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by TinyFingeringTim

Will M&S set up Kosher Tills staffed ONLY by Jewish staff where only Kosher items can be processed?

One member of staff just to sell Rakusen's Matzos... seems a little excessive to me.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

civil war dudes. Coming soon.

[Marsh.]

How do these people live lives with such petty little worries?

I'm sure Allah won't send them to hell (do they have hell? ) for scanning a bottle of bucks fizz and giving it to an old woman.

Can non-smokers refuse to touch cigarette packets too? Just stupid.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by TinyFingeringTim

Will M&S set up Kosher Tills staffed ONLY by Jewish staff where only Kosher items can be processed?

Sack these petty bitches and set up more self serves.

I'm against getting rid of jobs in favour of faceless machines but if they're going to be so touchy about a simple job, get rid.

[jackc1806]

How ridiculous

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by 08marsh

Can non-smokers refuse to touch cigarette packets too? Just stupid.

Well exactly; I could almost... ALMOST... understand the reasoning if Muslims didn't eat pigs because they consider them to be sacred... but is it not because they are considered "unclean"? And if that's the case, then surely there's a massive precedent set for someone who is morally against smoking - for example, if they have had a family member die of smoking-caused lung cancer or heart disease - to refuse to sell cigarettes?

The fact is though, if you think pig-meat is unclean, fine, don't eat it. Why would you care about anyone else eating it? I wouldn't eat dog**** but it's none of my business if someone else wants to and if they want to give me money for the privilege, I'll be more than happy to oblige! I'll serve it up to them on a silver platter, thoroughly wash my hands, and move on.

As for alcohol... since when is it only Muslims that are teetotal? Is anyone who is morally against alcohol consumption allowed to refuse to sell it? Or only Muslims? Because that would be blatant discrimination.

[Me. I Am Salman]

loads of people running their mouth of as usual without checking their facts. You do know it's actually permissible in Islam to handle pork/wine etc in a supermarket where you're working for someone else? It's only a bad thing if you're selling it in your own shop

there are no words to describe how stupid this is is but predictably the blame will be shifted on Muslims instead of M&S I've never ever ever come across any other muslim person who has ever suggested this, so don't blame us we didn't ask for it.

Originally Posted by Ithinkiloveyoutoo

civil war dudes. Coming soon.

such an idiotic thing to say, stop with your scaremongering rubbish

It's annoying, were just trying to live our lives but other people are speaking for us

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Salman!

loads of people running their mouth of as usual without checking their facts.

Ironic.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Well I'm guessing you don't know what ironic means cuz I've never done that.

[Withano]

I don't think people with a trolley-full of pork who see several tills in front of them but asks a Muslim to serve them in a hurry deserve to be seen to quickly. Similarly Christians should be permitted to refuse service to those wanting to buy a box of burning bibles. I don't see what the big deal is. If you're considerate of others, there shouldn't be a problem.

[zakman440]

I'm sorry but if you don't like it, don't work there in my opinion (I mean this towards the Muslims)

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Salman!

Well I'm guessing you don't know what ironic means cuz I've never done that.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Yawn.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Salman!

loads of people running their mouth of as usual without checking their facts. You do know it's actually permissible in Islam to handle pork/wine etc in a supermarket where you're working for someone else? It's only a bad thing if you're selling it in your own shop

there are no words to describe how stupid this is is but predictably the blame will be shifted on Muslims instead of M&S I've never ever ever come across any other muslim person who has ever suggested this, so don't blame us we didn't ask for it.

Is that true? I thought it was all fine and dandy unless you actually consumed the product. A lot of Muslim ran shops round here sell bacon, alcohol and such.

Originally Posted by Withasnow

I don't think people with a trolley-full of pork who see several tills in front of them but asks a Muslim to serve them in a hurry deserve to be seen to quickly. Similarly Christians should be permitted to refuse service to those wanting to buy a box of burning bibles. I don't see what the big deal is. If you're considerate of others, there shouldn't be a problem.

A trolley full of pork...how often does that happen?

There is a problem because people are there to do a job, and religion shouldn't come into the workplace. Otherwise we would have people of every religion making excuses to get out of doing stuff. If you dont like your job, get a new one that doesn't involve doing things that mortally offend you.



To me, this has all come about because of one or two arseholes whingeing. Or its human resources or something deciding to get all offended on behalf of others (as bloody usual). I really really doubt most of the Muslim workers in M&S give a crap about handling the packaging of pork products or alcohol.

[Apple202]

what a joke