To think that if a workplace requires you to wear a poppy they should supply one?

[HaveIGoneMadHere]

Basically just that. My work group chat have had a text from our manager this morning to say that if we don’t have a poppy by the end of the day we could face disciplinary action. I don’t tend to carry cash with me and have no way of getting change as I’m now on my way to work. Would I be unreasonable to go back and ask them to supply one for me?

I have nothing against wearing the poppy, I just don’t tend to carry cash with me and don’t go to places where they’re sold that frequently. I’ve not seen a single poppy box yet this year.

I think an issue here is that you are finding yourself in a position where you feel you have to justify not having a poppy. No one has to justify themselves. I never buy one.

It’s surely illegal for them to say you must, or face sanctions!

I always buy one, but nobody should be forced to.

THIS. Glad someone’s got their head screwed on.
Think before you follow the crowd.

This is really lazy thinking. My father was one of those who fought and was injured. He never bought poppies because he thought it was all a bit of a cheap gesture which was in itself disrespectful - putting a pound in a poppy tin and feeling that you've done your bit in no way compensates for what people actually went through. You don't have to agree with him, but how fucking dare you think less of him for it.

Agree 100%

Well, your choice is

1. Buy a poppy somehow

Or

1. Tell your manager you cannot get a poppy today but plan to at some point

Or

1. Tell your manager and HR that you would like to understand where in the employee handbook it gives the power to a manager to require a poppy to be purchased and worn and to tough it out if they talk about disciplinary (for which they are unlikely to have any legal backing for). Are you in a union?

There was a news presenter who refused to wear a poppy on air. He writes about it here:

https://www.channel4.com/news/by/jon-snow/blogs/wear-poppy-air

I think I feel about poppies the same way I do about the enforced three minute silence for 9/11. It’s performative - doing something so people can see that you care.

OP, I think you should text your manager back and say you are happy to wear a poppy and ask where you can collect one since your employers are presumably supplying them, having mandated it as a workplace requirement.

When did 'poppy season' become a thing? Why do TV presenters and politicians wear poppies for weeks? I buy a poppy and wear it on the 11th November (I'm not religious so don't do Remembrance Sunday. I don't wear it for weeks before hand and weeks afterwards. I think it has lost its deeper meaning by becoming something we see everyday rather than just seeing a lot of them on the day.

I'd be tempted to get a white poppy.

I think I would refuse to wear one on principle if someone threatened me like that! One can donate money to the (worthwhile) cause without wearing a poppy.

In your shoes, OP, I think I would just let it play out. I think it unlikely your employer would be foolish enough to instigate disciplinary proceedings about it.

As you do support the cause, you could always donate online to the British Legion, then if a service user asks about it, or your manager questions you, you can 'prove' that you have given.

But you shouldn't feel obliged to donate. There are very many worthwhile charities and for the ordinary working person, it's impossible to give to all of them, even if you would like to.

This is ridiculous. I just spent about £50 as paid for them for all my family. Happy to do so, happy to wear. However, I change clothes/jackets everyday and I honestly don’t think to swap it every single day. So some days I am wearing it and some days not. If my work place demands that I have one pinned to my at all times they can give it to me as I walk in the door every day. Aside from that my children don’t get the poppy itself by the snap bracelets. You aren’t obligated to buy the pinnable ones anymore.

Simplest thing is in the future to have a poppy brooch.

Get a Peace Pledge Union white poppy.

I think less of you for thinking less of someone else for not wearing it.

And no doubt you think less of me for thinking less of you for thinking less of someone else for refusing to wear one.

And on it goes. No chuffing way would I be FORCED to wear a poppy at my work or anywhere else.

I have a couple of thoughts on this.

Your employer should not be attempting to mandate this. Plenty of people don’t wear a poppy for personal reasons and that’s ok. My mum won’t wear one because of how her father was treated after his time in the war and his subsequent stationing in Israel where he was seriously injured.

However, if I didn’t have serious opposition to wearing one, and I knew that service users were uncomfortable due to me not wearing one, I’d buy one to make them happy.

I picked up a bracelet for my daughter in Morrisons last week and was able to pay contactless.

That's utter bollocks. I wouldn't wear a poppy. Members of my family served and some died in the world wars. They wouldn't wear them either.

Can you make one? Any red pens at work?

How?

Am astonished at all the politicising and posturing about personal views.
The poppy is a symbol of remembrance, not a demonstration of your standpoint on war or the army or freedom or democracy.
We live post war and conflict free and we are asked to remember that some people died in achieving just that.
Poppies were never meant to be a symbol of your politics. They are just a "I remember, and thank you".

Also, it bugs me when people talk of "buying" a poppy. It's surely "donating" and accepting the poppy in return.

It's very strange that they are forcing you to wear one, I've never heard of that! That is unreasonable of your employer and they probably should have got a job lot to have at the office for you all to pick from.

However you can donate as little as penny to get a poppy, no amount is too small, surely someone around you has a penny, or perhaps there's one in a drawer or at the bottom of your handbag, shove that in the pot and take a poppy.

Once Sunday has passed I'd be discussing this with your manager as to why they are enforcing it. That's unreasonable. It's also detrimental to the poppy appeal, it's meant to be a nice thing, not making people angry and upset.

I wouldn't wear it. What bolllocks. Just say your grandad was from a country where Britain went to war and was killed by British soldiers?

They can't legally discipline you for not wearing a military related badge. Unless you work for the MOD?!

I'd say pick your battles carefully. Drawing £10, buying something to split and donating £1 to the RBL isn't difficult.

You could use a lot of capital in what management will inevitably see as a show of pettiness.

Same here. I'd happily wear a white one if they were easily available, but I never see them for sale anywhere.

I think that the employer is BU. There are some groups (Quakers spring to mind, but only because I know a couple) who have a conscientious objection to the whole remembrance thing.

They're produced for and received in return for a donation to the Royal British Legion, so no, they're not only a symbol of remembrance. It's supporting a charity that exists solely to support military personnel, veterans and their families, it's perfectly valid to not want to support this as a cause.