Selfridges reinstates suspended shop worker who refused to serve EDL leader Tommy Robinson and friend after Twitter backlash
Selfridges has reinstated a shop assistant who was suspended after refusing to serve EDL leader Tommy Robinson’s friend following a Twitter storm over the incident.Robinson visited a branch of the clothes shop on Monday with a friend but was refused service from an assistant that Robinson described as “a Muslim” on Twitter. The EDL leader leads the political group’s anti-Islam protests.Robinson posted a video of the exchange and was promptly compensated by the shop with a free lunch at its Hix restaurant, with champagne included, for him and his friend.However, the incident sparked outrage on Twitter with many coming to the defence of the shop assistant, who was suspended following the exchange, and who Selfridges said had a perfect record in his seven years of work.The shop said the member of staff would return to work following an investigation, and was quoted in the Evening Standard as saying: “Company policy is everyone is welcome, regardless of what people’s political views are.”
We have completed our investigation with our long term Sales Associate, and he will be back in the store shortly
— Selfridges.com (@Selfridges) September 18, 2013Would those objecting to Selfridges worker’s right to refuse serving a racist begrudge a gay man refusing to serve a violent homophobe?
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) September 17, 2013Dear @Selfridges in this instance the customer is always right wingDon't sack someone who displayed integrity and is a credit to your store
— gpdlondon (@gpdlondon) September 17, 2013No way @Selfridges! Have you suspended worker who refused to serve EDL's Tommy Robinson? I'm proud of his anti-racist stance. Will BOYCOTT!
— Sonia Poulton (@SoniaPoulton) September 18, 2013Dear @Selfridges, if you fire the guy who refused to serve EDL über-bigot Tommy Robinson, I'll never shop with you again. RT if you agree.
— Unnamed Insider (@Unnamedinsider) September 18, 2013Owen Jones wrong on the Tommy Robinson/Selfridges thing. Non-discrimination cuts both ways, you have to treat opponents of fairness fairly.
— Dean (@Buster_Bear) September 17, 2013