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Poppy ban insult at store
A Wigan shop has banned its staff from wearing poppies. Employees at cosmetic shop Bodycare, in The Galleries, were amazed when they were told they could not wear poppies to honour the soldiers who have died for their country.
And one member of staff has told how customers looked on in amazement as she was told in public to remove her poppy as wearing it was "against company policy".
Catherine Barr, 49, from Hindley, has worked at the shop, owned by national chain Bodycare UK, for seven years and said she was shocked when she was told to remove her poppy.
She said: "I turned up for work wearing my poppy and was told by management I couldn't wear it for work. I was gobsmacked.
"I refused to remove it. I was quite upset and really annoyed.
"There were customers there and they were just as shocked as I was. I can't imagine a single person would agree with this.
"I have worn a poppy every year I have worked here, but apparently I shouldn't have done.
"Because I refused to take it off, they called the area manager and they came down and I had a meeting with them.
"In the end, I still had to remove it, otherwise I was facing the prospect of a disciplinary hearing.
"I wasn't asking Bodycare to support it, I was just asking to be able to wear a poppy for work."
Bodycare's decision to ban poppies and charity wristbands has disappointed local war veterans' organisations.
Mike Kirkby, treasurer of Wigan Borough Veterans' Council, said: "It's a disgrace.
"They are not providing money for funding wars, they are providing money for the war survivors.
"They have to give a specific reason for a ban. They can't just say you can't wear poppies or wrist badges without a reason."
David Murray, county manager for West Lancashire Royal British Legion, said: "Poppies are there for remembrance of troops past and present.
"It's always sad when corporate bodies take that sort of stance. If companies don't want to wear poppies, we can't force the issue and prey on their conscience to say we remember those guys who put themselves in harms way.
"We are sad to hear things like this but we are not going to legislate against them."
Kath Ashcroft, manager of the British Heart Foundation shop in Wigan, said she believes staff should be able to wear charity emblems.
She said: "If they want to support a charity, they should be allowed. It's usually only a small badge.
"We have a heart badge and we wear them and poppies."
A spokesman for GR and MM Blackledge, Bodycare's parent company, said: "Employees are only allowed to wear their uniform and charitable pins would not be considered part of the uniform and they would not be allowed to wear them."
A spokesman said the company does not discriminate against any charity, as it banned all wristbands and charity emblems.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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