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.

Have you got screenshots of his message?
Make them right now before they disappear.

If service users are complaining about staff not wearing poppies, then you might want to suggest that only people wearing poppies do face to face? or that you have a "front desk poppy" for anyone to use when they do f2f with service users?

In your shoes i would send a message to the manager, reminding him that this is not a legal requirement and may indeed cause problems if similar requests are made in future. (as an eg: if your service users are older and moan about poppies, how would they feel about progress pride lanyards were they to be compulsory?)

Best way forward is to screenshot the message. Tell manager that you will not be wearing a poppy unless someone gives it to you (at no cost to yourself) and wait and see.
good luck

I’d be making HR aware of the message your manager has sent so they can provide them with some training.

The box of poppies in my local cafe has a QR code so you can donate online with no cash if that helps.

Threatening disciplinary action because of not wearing a poppy is outrageous. Have a look a your workplace policy, I bet it doesn't mention anything in there. Sounds like one of those scenarios where your manager is making up their own rules. They don;' have a leg to stand on.

Buying a poppy is actually a donation to a charity isn’t it.

Seriously how can your boss think they are in their right mind for trying to force you to donate to a charity?

DM
Hi manager, any chance you would have a spare one? I'm happy to wear it, but getting one myself turns out surprisingly tricky.

It's to raise money for charity. Don't be so tight, they cost pennies

I bought one and paid contact less a couple of days ago.

it isn't the act, it is the principle.

Which charities are you ok being forced to donate to? Which not?

You manager is a cunt.

A disciplinary for not wearing a poppy?

World has gone totally nuts.

Charitable donations cannot and should not be compulsory.

I'm shocked that people don't realise that the poppy started as a WW1 thing.

My GF was one of those teenagers. He was in the navy, and his ship went down in the Battle of Jutland. He was rescued (unlike most of his shipmates), but contracted pneumonia, presumably from spending some time in freezing water, and his lungs never worked properly again. He was 19.

I was only 3 when he died, so barely remember him, but according to my DM, his experiences made him fiercely anti-war and he became seriously depressed when WW2 started.

What if op chooses to give money to a different charity instead? Poppy Appeal isn’t entitled to a donation from the whole of the population every November.

I prefer to donate items to food/clothing/baby banks instead of donate money where i have no control over how someone might piss my money up the wall.

My workplace requires me to wear clothes but I have to buy them.

More seriously, it’s bonkers that you’re being told you’d fade disciplinary action over a poppy. If you’re that bothered I’d be tempted to test it. Unless you work for the charity itself.

It’s not distasteful and many people have an issue with wearing one.

Which is the issue in the first place in my opinion.
The manager might want to placate the clients. But he can’t force people to wear one if they don’t want to (regardless of the reasons)

you can claim work clothes back on tax though.

tbh, even if i was wearing a poppy if my manager told anyone it was compulsory i'd put it through the shredder.

You could stick a pin in your lapel and then do surprised Pikachu face "Oh it must have fallen off, can everybody help me search the office floor?" if management ask where your poppy is?

(That seems to happen to me whenever I wear a poppy - it falls off somewhere and I end up walking around with a pin).

Just put a pin (safety or normal sewing pin) on your top and say it much have fallen out sometime during the day 🤔

And?
Its not because it’s a charity that it’s one you want to support.
Many charities are questionable and there are many I would refuse to give to. Why is that one any different?

Have any of your other colleagues responded to the group chat?

You actually don’t have a right to think less of anyone because of their beliefs. You don’t have to agree with them and they don’t have to agree with you.

Ridiculous of your company. Either tell your manager you can't do it because you have left the house without cash and so they can supply you with one or borrow a £1 from a colleague.

Madness! Does your boss insist his staff adjust to everything clients complain about??

I’d just blank it - no response, no action.

I don’t wear poppies. I used to, but it’s all become so coloured by other things. And I don’t donate to military charities. And nobody should try to make me do so - any more than I should try to force anyone to contribute to or support my charities of choice!!

You have a right to think anything you want!

I wouldn't use all my work capital on an issue like this, just find one.