That was mighty quick.
M&S apology over Muslim staff policy
Marks and Spencer says shoppers won’t be refused alcohol by staff as it claims a failure to follow internal policy led to a shopper being told to queue elsewhere because a Muslim worker couldn’t serve them alcohol
A Marks and Spencer customer chooses a bottle of wine Photo: Kumar Sriskandan / Alamy
By Claire Carter
8:34AM GMT 23 Dec 2013
Customers at Marks and Spencer will not be refused alcohol or pork by Muslim staff after the store reacted to a massive backlash by customers.
Thousands of shoppers threatened to boycott the retailer after Marks and Spencer said it would allow Muslim staff to refuse to sell pork and alcohol because it was against their religious beliefs.
But now Marks and Spencer has apologised and said that Muslim staff who did not want to handle these products would not man tills and would work in other roles such as in clothing or in the bakery.
The issue was revealed after customers at a London branch of Marks and Spencer were told they would have to use another till because the assistant would not be able to serve them pork or alcohol.
At the time Marks and Spencer said staff could refuse to sell these items, based on their religious beliefs.
More here. H/T: Mimosa Dedannan