Shop changes policy over wearing of remembrance poppy

But a Southampton shop worker says she has been left “disgusted” after bosses told her to remove her charity poppy because it is not part of her uniform.

Harriet Phipps initially refused to take off the symbolic badge, but said she felt pressured into doing so after being ordered to again by a supervisor at Hollister in Southampton’s WestQuay Shopping Centre.

But the 18-year-old – who wears a poppy in honour of a friend currently serving in Afghanistan and her grandfather who fought in the Second World War – has vowed to continue turning up for work proudly displaying it.

She said: “I think it’s disgusting. I’m going to wear it again because it’s quite personal to me. I’ve told them if we’re not going to change the policy then I’m going to take this further. I’ve always worn a poppy and I’m going to keep fighting for it because I believe it’s right.”

Archie Parsons, secretary of the Southampton branch of the Royal British Legion, said he was disappointed any firm would bar staff from supporting the Poppy Appeal, which raises much-needed cash to support veterans and their families.

Mr Parsons said: “It’s sad that an individual company would choose to adopt this stance, because 99.9 per cent of companies are totally supportive.

“For these two weeks out of 52 I would like to think that people could show some solidarity, if only for those who are fighting for their country at the moment.”

Shop assistants at Hollister, which is owned by American firm Abercrombie and Fitch, wear clothes from the store’s range as uniform.

Harriet, of Portswood, said she had already worn the poppy at work for a day when she was approached by a supervisor, who told her it was inappropriate. She turned up to work with it on again yesterday, but was ordered to remove it.

No one from Hollister was available for comment last night, but it is understood Abercrombie and Fitch has altered its policy to allow staff to wear poppies on Remembrance Day.