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.

If the government wants to send people into wars where they will get PTSD they need to fully fund their rehabilitation, not rely on charitable donations. The whole thing can get to fuck. I am not wearing one and I think the last time I did I was about 15.

Your boss has got it so wrong.

Remembrance is about what is in our mind, our thoughts.

It is not about wearing symbols or performative gestures.

You can choose to wear a poppy, but to be forced to wear one (and I include government in this) is to go against the sacrifice that those we are remembering made - that they gave their lives for freedom.

Can you borrow some cash off a colleague?

And maybe, as this is a work requirement, spend a couple of hours going round town looking for a poppy seller on company time?

I'd be tempted to ask your manager if he has an employment lawyer.

I don’t have £10 going spare at the moment

Please don't keep trying to explain. It's no ones business on here or anywhere else.
If your boss wants to provide one you still don't need to wear it.
A well known mn thing is "no is a complete sentence".

I'd tell your manager that. Complete tosser that they are.

Your boss cannot make you all spend money on a poppy?! I'd ask HR if they are providing them? I'm sure they'll have something to say.

Why should she borrow any cash from anyone?

Also the number of people I’ve spoken to who think 11 November marks the end of the Second World War and “fighting Hitler” is astounding. They don’t even know what it’s in honour of. Also wasn’t the whole point no more wars yet here we are more than 100 years later and still shitloads of wars.

The men who were conscripted and died were basically sacrificed for the sake of politics and it was awful. They were victims rather than heroes - they shouldn’t have been there (for WW1). Teenagers were forced to witness the most horrible atrocities and it was all glorified and seen as “worth it”. And the fallout from it pushed Germany to elect an insane dictator and resulted in WW2.

I’d let the manager start the disciplinary, silly sod.

You're in a union? let them try
you're not in a union? let them try but more difficult for you

Tell them if they bring poppies round, bung 5p in the box and take a poppy?
Get a white poppy?

I'm sick of businesses telling their staff what to think. It's utter bullshit. Just ignore it and let them bring the disciplinary, I think you'll find they won't.

….because that’s not all the red poppy symbolises (and funds)

the Peace Pledge Union promoted peace whilst paying respects.

White poppies are worn every year by thousands of people across the UK and beyond. They were first produced in 1933 in the aftermath of the First World War, by members of the Co-operative Women's Guild. Many of these women had lost family and friends in the First World War. They wanted to hold on to the key message of Remembrance Day, 'never again'.
White poppies stand for three things.

🤍Remembrance of all victims of war, including both civilians and members of the armed forces. We remember people of all nationalities. We remember those killed in wars happening now, as well as in the past. We also remember those who are often excluded from the mainstream, such as refugees and victims of colonial conflicts.

🤍Challenging war and militarism, as well as any attempt to glorify or celebrate war. White poppies encourage us to question the way war is normalised and justified. They remind us of the need to resist war and its causes today.

🤍A commitment to peace and to seeking nonviolent solutions to conflict. By drawing attention to the devastating human cost of war, white poppies highlight the urgency of our ongoing struggle for peace.

Agree

If you have no moral/ethical objection to wearing one, and would like to but can’t buy one, draw one on paper and stick it to your lapel. If anyone questions you, tell them the point of remembrance is remembering. Handing over your money is not compulsory.

Otherwise, I’d say your boss is skirting close to breaching the Equality Act by compelling a religious/political belief system in the workplace.

You're not spending the £10. You're buying something you'd usually buy anyway, getting the cashback, asking for a fiver and four pound coins and two fifty p, putting 50p in a box and getting a poppy. You still have £9.50 so the £10 doesn't need to be "spare".

I don't wear one, and wouldn't. My employer likes us to and provides them, but there's no expectation that we wear them. I'm not client facing so it's kind of irrelevant to me though.

You can say to your boss "no problem, just let me know where the company ones are so I can pick it up".

They can discipline you for it, because there is no recourse from disciplinary (it's never "illegal" to discipline someone). Unless you decide to resign claiming constructive dismissal, which seems like a nuclear option. You should be able to appeal any outcome internally though.
You may face a hearing but no outcome I guess.
They would probably try to claim it was a "reasonable management request", which is obviously matter of opinion.

like what? you don't have to. And if you do, you should either claim back as expenses (in full) or on your tax return.

I used to be in the military. Like both my parents before me, like my grandfathers before them. Going back quite a way. I only ever wore a poppy in uniform because it was literally an order. But i don't always get one these days. And i didn't sign up to the "one day's pay" scheme while i served because the officers were only required to pay a certain amount which was not the equivalent of one day's pay for any of us.

These days it's a lot of performative nonsense. I have a broach and earrings and sometimes wear them. Sometimes not.

They cannot possibly make you face disciplinary action for not displaying a poppy. Unless it’s a part of your uniform because you work for this charity, it’s absurd.

I’m not against wearing a poppy, and I wear one myself because that’s a choice of mine. However, to force someone to make a charity donation, as well as display a political symbol, is not something your employer can force upon you.

Some people might not have the £10 at all to spend on anything.

the Peace Pledge Union promes peace whilst paying respects.
Buy white poppies here - https://shop.ppu.org.uk/products/poppies-5-pack

White poppies stand for three things.

🤍Remembrance of all victims of war, including both civilians and members of the armed forces. We remember people of all nationalities. We remember those killed in wars happening now, as well as in the past. We also remember those who are often excluded from the mainstream, such as refugees and victims of colonial conflicts.

🤍Challenging war and militarism, as well as any attempt to glorify or celebrate war. White poppies encourage us to question the way war is normalised and justified. They remind us of the need to resist war and its causes today.

🤍A commitment to peace and to seeking nonviolent solutions to conflict. By drawing attention to the devastating human cost of war, white poppies highlight the urgency of our ongoing struggle for peace.

Not everyone has £10 to donate like that.

Ask one of your service users to knit, or crochet, one for you. There are patterns on the web.

I don’t have anything to buy. I live within a very strict budget.

So would I!

I wear a poppy but it should be obvious that it ought to be a choice. The only exception I can think of is if you work in an army barracks or something like that.