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.

Do you actually need cash?

A couple of months ago I bought a "May Flower" from a well known Swedish children's charity - usually sold by kids aged 10-13 outside supermarkets - and the young boy was totally baffled to be offered cash! ... pointed at the QR code!

I see you have now bought one, but I would still be inclined to say on the group chat that you have now bought one and will wear it, but you are curious about the grounds on which the disciplinary would have been made, as you have checked the staff handbook (or similar) and you cannot see which rule you would be breaking if you had chosen not to buy one. I'd be interested to know what his response was.

The show of pettiness is the manager threatening someone with disciplinary action for not wearing a poppy.

I haven't RTFT, so apologies if this has been said already:

When you take the poppy off next week, save it somewhere and remember where it is for next year and future years.

Our family are currently re-using poppies from 2 or 3 years ago.

(I've got no objection to giving to the charity, but I did it online this year because it's just easier than trying to find a poppy seller locally. I don't think you should have been forced to donate in the first place, but now that you have, you might as well get plenty of use out of the poppy.)

Do you just think this about poppies or are there other areas of charitable giving that you think should be compulsory?

Nothing against poppies I prefer the white ones for peace.
However your manager is controlling , small minded, and being ridiculous. Disciplining for not wearing a poppy! I never heard something so ridiculous. If the oldies are offended so be it. Do they know the company is threatening people to wear . Ridiculous.

You are quite right, legally, that you do not need to do this, just as, legally, you cannot be compelled to wear one

However, the sort of organisation that lets a manager insist you wear one is the same sort of organisation that will victimise you for any infringement of the illegal petty rules

Start looking for a new job now, and make sure when you find one you explain why you left in your leaving interview or letter

But this is a case where the arsehole manager will make life hell for OP, regardless of the legality of enforcing their petty rules

Should you? I bet you wouldn’t have that attitude if the charity in question was an LGBTQ one or if it related to donating money to overseas aid. Charitable giving is absolutely optional and many of us don’t actually support the activities of the British Legion in any event so would have a big problem being forced to donate to them.

Cannot afford one is a 'thin' excuse to you?
And thinking less of someone because they don't do something you think they should?
What a nasty, narrow-minded, judgemental bigot you are

Why do people have to wear a symbol to show respect ? I've never worn a poppy and dont intend to now but can respect events in my own way without the symbol.

OP from a HR point of view you cannot discipline someone for refusing to wear a poppy regardless of what your useless employer have said. Service users should have been told employers cannot enforce something like that.

agree

This is absolutely ridiculous.

Seriously? I honestly can’t believe anyone is this naive. If I buy and wear a poppy here in NI, I am very much making a political statement. Supporting the Royal British Legion suggests tacit support for a British army who didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory here, to say the least. I am very respectful of the sacrifices made during two world wars, but I do not support the British army. If someone told me I had to wear a poppy at work, I would raise merry hell over it. And I certainly wouldn’t pay for it.

No it should definitely be a choice. In my place of work its obligatory to put pronouns on everything which I refuse to do as I can't find the obligation to do so on any policy disciplinary or otherwise.
I'd be asking to see the policy.

N Ireland is very different to the mainland. It’s not naivety, it’s completely different history and culture.

I know you've resolved this now, OP but there's no way any disciplinary action for not wearing a poppy could legally be upheld.
I'd have just refused on the grounds that it was a personal choice. I know quite a lot of older people and not one of them could care less whether or not someone choses to wear a poppy.
Your manager is quite in the wrong, and is setting themselves up to be in a difficult situation by not considering the legalities.

And yes, before anyone comes at me, I know it is a symbol of freedom etc, but that carries with it the freedom not to wear a poppy.

Nobody has complained that staff aren’t wearing a poppy on or before bonfire night. That’s ridiculous. Did they also complain nobody wished them a happy new year?

We live post war and conflict free and we are asked to remember that some people died in achieving just that.

What nonsense. For a start, the UK has been involved in plenty of wars since WW2 and doesn’t seem particularly committed to peace. Also, people in Germany equally live in peace in the current day. The idea that the only reason we don’t have bombs dropped on us daily today is because of something that happened 80 years ago is ridiculous. It’s equally due to international efforts to promote peace - for example the European convention on human rights (and partly also the EU). Yet we seem hell bent on ducking out of any collaborations like that.

Outrageous to try and enforce poppy buying and wearing. I would absolutely take a stand and refuse. Then look for another job with a more sensible manager.

i got mine yesterday at waitrose. they took cash or card and you could give whatever you wanted. i imagine most supermarkets would take card for them

In other news ...

I'm married to someone who's serving. For many people who've experienced conflict first-hand, remembrance is deeply private and personal. I don't wear a poppy, and neither does my partner, but we don't dislike them.

Harping on at people for not wearing a poppy is crass and rude. Always seems to be done by fantasists of one sort or another. There are many ways to show that you care, and that isn't one.

Agree
What a ridiculous request.