Tesco in Neasden has issued an apology after a Muslim worker refused to serve a customer buying ham and wine because he was fasting for Ramadan.

Julie Cottle, has lodged a complaint with Tesco after the employee at the manned till inside the Express branch in west London insisted she use the self-service checkout.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar when Muslims, who are strictly forbidden from consuming alcohol and pork at all times, fast between dawn and sunset.

Mrs Cottle said: “He pointed at the ham and wine in my basket and said ‘I can’t serve you that because I’m fasting’.

“When I told him he should be serving customers not turning them away he still refused telling me to go to the self-service.

“I was furious.”

When Mrs Cottle, a mother-of-three, complained to the manager she said he backed the worker.

“He insisted I use the self-checkout but said he would pass on my complaint,” she said.

“I’m disgusted. If he is refusing to do his job he shouldn’t be there.”

Mrs Cottle said after calling customer services when she got home she was told the worker could face disciplinary action.

She added: “I hope he does. If he can’t serve food he shouldn’t be working in a supermarket.”

A spokesman for Tesco said: “We’re here to serve our customers the products they choose to buy. We don’t have a specific policy and take a pragmatic approach if a colleague raises concerns about a job they have been asked to do.

“We apologise to our customer for any inconvenience on this occasion.”

striktlymi: This is making a big deal out of nothing.

ninja4life: Man must chop hypocrites

TheBigUrban2:


Who is making the big deal?

I hope you are talking about the muslim making a big deal of his religion. I hope

striktlymi:

Both sides!

The Muslim dude is stretching something very basic. If he can't serve ham then he should do so without inconveniencing the customers. It's all about making the proper arrangements with some of his co-workers.

The lady too, though a customer, should at least have tried to be a bit more understanding with this guy. Her insistence (I presume) on this dude serving her ham is also stretching a simple matter. If someone else can get her what she wants then she should free the Muslim dude.

striktlymi:

Both sides!

The Muslim dude is stretching something very basic. If he can't serve ham then he should do so without inconveniencing the customers. It's all about making the proper arrangements with some of his co-workers.

The lady too, though a customer, should at least have tried to be a bit more understanding with this guy. Her insistence (I presume) on this dude serving her ham is also stretching a simple matter. If someone else can get her what she wants then she should free the Muslim dude.

Burger01:
I don't think you know what are talking about. you're simply confused. Call a spade a spade, the Muslim guy erred. His action negate the policy of his organisation. The customer had the right of choice of whatever she could by in that store. She less bothered about who's to serve her or what religion that person serves. The action of the Muslim guy was extreme and biased as far as Tesco is concerned.

Burger01:
I don't think you know what are talking about. you're simply confused. Call a spade a spade, the Muslim guy erred. His action negate the policy of his organisation. The customer had the right of choice of whatever she could by in that store. She less bothered about who's to serve her or what religion that person serves. The action of the Muslim guy was extreme and biased as far as Tesco is concerned.

striktlymi:

How do you know that his action is against the company's policy? Your thoughts on that seems to suggest that you neither read nor understood the OP properly.

A complaint was made to the manager who backed the Muslim dude. What does that suggests? The manager and the Muslim dude are both doing something against the company's policy? I think not!

The fact that the Company seems to be very reluctant in dishing out punitive measures against the Muslim dude seems to suggest that the Muslim dude was given permission not to serve ham during this period.

Like I said, both sides made a big deal out of nothing. This shouldn't have escalated if they had been a bit more understanding and the planning was right.

striktlymi:

How do you know that his action is against the company's policy? Your thoughts on that seems to suggest that you neither read nor understood the OP properly.

A complaint was made to the manager who backed the Muslim dude. What does that suggests? The manager and the Muslim dude are both doing something against the company's policy? I think not!

The fact that the Company seems to be very reluctant in dishing out punitive measures against the Muslim dude seems to suggest that the Muslim dude was given permission not to serve ham during this period.

Like I said, both sides made a big deal out of nothing. This shouldn't have escalated if they had been a bit more understanding and the planning was right.

Burger01:
Ogbeni, you're still confused..

....A spokesman for Tesco said: “We’re here to serve our customers the products they choose to buy. We don’t have a specific policy and take a pragmatic approach if a colleague raises concerns about a job they have been asked to do....

Now, what do you make of that...

Burger01:
Ogbeni, you're still confused..

....A spokesman for Tesco said: “We’re here to serve our customers the products they choose to buy. We don’t have a specific policy and take a pragmatic approach if a colleague raises concerns about a job they have been asked to do....

Now, what do you make of that...

ninja4life: Man must chop hypocrites