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Friday 6 November 2009

Friday 55 Flash Fiction # 95 Jobsworth




Friday 55 Flash Fiction is brought to you by G-man (Mr Knowitall). The idea is you write a story in exactly 55 words. If you want to take part pop over and let G-man know when you've posted your 55.



“It’s not part of your uniform” the employer said



“I am not taking it off” said the employee


“Then it’s a disciplinary matter” replied the employer


“Do it” said the employee who then reported it to the press.



Now the employer has changed their policy and employees are allowed to wear


remembrance poppies at work.





I bent the rules today - this is not fiction but it is 55 words, words that say a lot about the state of this country of mine! This actually happened in Lancashire.

The employer, Bodycare, actually threatened an employee with disciplinary action if she did not remove the poppy. You can read about it here.


The public and a local MP kicked up such a stink that the company has changed their policy but, I think, only because there were calls for the public to boycott their stores.


How disgusting is it that people are not allowed to support our fallen and injured service personnel?


I despair for this country of mine I really do!

36 comments:

Flowerpot said...

words fail me - as they frequently do where bureaucracy is concerned!

quilly said...

I fear it is not just your country. Such things happen here, too.

Dumdad said...

Disgraceful. Thank you for highlighting this.

Nessa said...

Some people just don't think.

Flash 55 - Holiday Preparations

clean and crazy said...

makes you wonder doesn't it? great 55.

Sandi McBride said...

Political Correctness goes to far here, too...I despair at times, I really do. Does it make me feel any better that you are undergoing much the same? No, in fact it does not. But it heartens me that your Politicians are not afraid to stand up for right...maybe ours will do that one day. Maybe.
hugs
Sandi

buffalodick said...

Corporate pressure defies personal freedoms..You can kick them in the pills to no avail, but kick them in the wallet and they give in!

Daryl said...

It takes, sadly, some not so nice actions to get things noticed and changed ... to not let someone wear a badge HONORING those who protected you is just hogwash and I am glad the wearer stood up for their rights!

Ron said...

Unbelievable!?!

That would be like here telling someone they couldn't wear a Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon on their uniform.

Great 55, m'dear!

Enlightening.

Have a great weekend!
X

Linda said...

Now that's totally pathetic that they couldn't bend the rules for something like that though with most places that wear uniforms, you DO have to get permission to wear something that isn't part of it first. I wear a uniform to work and I can't just show up with something added to it that is not part of the uniform policy but I'd be willing to bet if we were to ask management if we could do something special, they would most definitely consider it if it were in good taste and for a good reason.

cheshire wife said...

They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but it this case I reckon that it was bad publicity. Thankfully common sense prevailed.

There is a little something and an award for you at my blog.

Maggie May said...

I am getting so fed up with this nonsense & yet a drunken man who peed on a cenotaph might face prison because of what he did. What extreme of points of view though.
BTW....I don't condone drunken men peeing on cenotaphs.(Or anywhere else.)
Some people don't deserve the freedom that is only theirs because of the men who fought in the two world wars.

Nuts in May

Pam said...

there was actually a story similar to this, but young man was wearing a button that said something about god (i think it might have been a line from anthem). the company doesn't allow any buttons to be worn with exception of the ones that the companies issue. the young man was fired. i don't know, in this case i think that the employer was w/i their rights to fire the guy, but i would not fire or whatever a person who wore a poppy. it's different in the sense that it's not a religious thing. but that's just my opinion.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

we get poppies every memorial day and wear them proudly! no one can tell us not to!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Akelamalu said...

Words failed me initially too Flowerpot :(

I don't no whether to be relieved or sad about that Quilly :(

Isn't it just Dumdad?

Some people are jobsworths Nessa!

It certainly does Clean & Crazy

Remembrance Poppies are very important here Sandi there's no way they were going to get away with such idiocy!

Quite Buff the thought of the loss of business soon changed their mind! Sad though isn't it? :(

I know, it's diabolical isn't it Daryl?

I expect that to be the next outrage Ron. People here have been told they can't wear a crucifix round their neck!

I understand the rules concerning uniforms Linda but I would expect firms to be asking employees to wear poppies not telling them they can't!

I don't think the publicity did Bodycare any good at all Cheshire Wife and it serves them right.

I so agree with you Maggie, there's no sense to it. I thought what that drunken student did was appalling though and I'm sure his parents are totally ashamed of him.

You have hit the nail on the head there Ciara. The wearing of Remembrance Poppies is just once a year so an exception should be made, after all it is in Remembrance of our war dead.

That's it precisely Bee - everyone should be allowed to wear them at this time of year - and proudly.

anthonynorth said...

The country has gone mad. Such things happen too often nowadays.Ridiculous and terrible, both.

Maude Lynn said...

What a disgrace!

Brian Miller said...

great 55. so glad they stood up, too many would have given in. its a sad reality.

mine is up.

Susan at Stony River said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan at Stony River said...

Years back, I was walking with my daughter when we saw an elderly man get out of his car, which had WWII veteran tags on it. I said hello, mentioned the tags and asked if I could shake his hand--my father had fought in that war. He took my hand then pulled me in for a hug, saying that so few people even remembered or cared anymore...I never forgot that. What a shame, and so sad sad sad, for all of us.

(Sorry about the deleted comment -- Blogger ate some of the words in it the first time!)

Akelamalu said...

I agree with you Anthony

Yes it is Mama Zen

Not enough people do stand up and be counted do they Brian?

That sounds like a nice moment for you and the old serviceman Susan. I did a post during the summer about a train trip we took where we sat with two elderly servicement who kept us enthralled with tales from their days in the forces. I thanked them for their service to our country as we bid them goodbye.

Reverend Michael Kilgore said...

So true, Ake....ah well-mines up!

Fandango said...

We love it when your 55 shows how really weird real humans are.

secret agent woman said...

Sometimes people get so stuck on the letter of the law, they lose sight of the bigger picture.

Lulda Casadaga said...

thoughtful 55...it happens here too with all sorts of issues...the other day someone was telling me about a school that wouldn't put up scary Halloween items, etc. Trying to be politically correct...to WHO?
You will be happy to know that my town is having a Veterans parade tomorrow morning...I'm sure I'll see a lot of poppys on lapels! :)

Joanna Jenkins said...

Some people get caught up in the power trip and miss the point. Very sad.

This is my first visit to you blog. I live it very much and will be back again soon. Nice to meet you.

xo

g-man said...

A reality 55 eh AKE??
Excellent job!!
That employer sure had it's head up it's ASS!
Thank you so much for this great little public service expose'!!
Have a Kick-Ass Week-End...G

Anonymous said...

That is so disrespectful. Very disappointing to know that there are people like that with distorted thinking.

forever lost said...

now how do you get my arrow to turn to a butterfly? magic! I am amazed that in the world of Political Correctness! many others are being treated unfair.
I TRULY DESPAIR for this country of mine as well.
thanks for the words (oft mine is not fiction too LOL)

hope said...

I love when people stand up for their beliefs and can't be bullied down! This was nicely done.

{And they don't always have to be fiction...heaven knows I can't stick to that rule}. :)

Have a great weekend!

Mona said...

LOL! I must do something like that with my Employers! :)

Akelamalu said...

Thanks Mike

Humans are definitely wierd Fandango ;)

Don't they just SAW!

I know all about the PC brigade as I work in a school Lulda :(
Nice to hear your town is having the parade. :)

Yes they do Joanna. Nice to meet you too m'dear. :)

You summed the employer up perfectly G-man! LOL

It is very disrespectfull Sashindoubutsu. Welcome to my blog and thanks for commenting.
:)

Yes PC hurts more people than it protects Boots. I'll pop by your place and let you know how to get a butterfly cursor. :)

I wish more people would stand up for themselves Hope

Are you having problems with your employer Mona? I hope you sort it out if you are. x

Travis Cody said...

Uniform policies are tricky things. I think sometimes it's important for both sides of the issue to be diplomatic and reasonable.

MarmiteToasty said...

wow Ake, that really happened up north? what a scumbag business.....

great 55 though..

x

Akelamalu said...

I agree that there has to be a strict code surrounding uniform issues but I think Bodycare were being totally unreasonable saying she couldn't wear the poppy Trav.

Yep it really happened Marmie - disgusting isn't it?

Anndi said...

As you know, my father passed early this year. He was a WWII veteran... these stories sadden me.

I wear my poppy, I wear my Dad's Legion sweater... and I'll defend the troops with as much dedication and tenacity as veterans demonstrated when life was hard and freedoms were being trampled.