The Macdonald Manchester Hotel and Spa took some flak in the media earlier this week, when it emerged that its management had only lifted a ban on staff wearing poppies on their uniforms because Princess Anne, president of the women's section of the Royal British Legion, was to visit the hotel for a fundraising dinner.
Is it unreasonable for businesses to bar employees from showing public support for charities? Or would allowing such displays leave staff able to deck themselves in poppies, wristbands, pin badges and lanyards?
That's a tough one. It reminds me a little of the stories last year about employees facing disciplinary action for refusing to hide or take off their crucifix necklaces. Conversely, I think there would be an issue if the hotel insisted its staff all wear the poppies ahead of Princess Anne's visit, because it all comes down to personal belief. I wonder what the management would have said ifsome staff wore white poppies, an anti-war symbol of support for peace.I think that by definition a uniform should be uniform and left at that with no personal extras.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
And by wearing a poppy, we are remembering that fact there was millions of people lost there lives in two horrific war’s and that we are lucky enough not to endure ourselves now.
This is more prevalent now in Iraq, Afghanistan, and so forth.
Also, do you ban cancer awareness ribbons and other associations’ ribbons? The answer is NO. NEVER!!!!
Let people make their own choice and honour their loved one.
It's not only being allowed to show your own support & respect by wearing a poppy whilst at work but I hope that employers will be allowing staff to honour our soldiers as a unified and proud Country by taking the 2 minutes silence at eleven o'clock tomorrow.
Gob Smacked to even see the question being asked.
Of course staff should be allowed to wear poppies, hardly like they over decorative or anything.
Pathetic that it even happened in the first place.
Not quite as insane as the red cross the other year being told to remove their xmas decrations in case they offended. all I will say is 'when in rome'
I think that staff should be able to wear a poppy to show their support for the fallen troops from past wars and wars happening now. If employees are worried about them, you can now pick up pins rather than the paper poppy - which can easily be worn and might be less intrusive (if that's what employees are worried about)
Google wears its poppy with pride .... so should we all!
www.google.co.uk
If any Employer I worked for was so Anal about there uniform or brand as to ban any show of personal support for registered charities
I would seriously consider my position there to be untenable.
You have to wonder who at head office has so much time on their hands to issue such an edict. generating ill feeling for the staff and customers.
Talk about an own goal!
www.primanox.org