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Morrisons worker reinstated after Help for Heroes row | Morrisons worker reinstated after Help for Heroes row |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Morrisons supermarket employee has been reinstated after a suspension for wearing a wristband in support of Help For Heroes and a poppy pin badge. | |
Adam Austin, who works at the Victory Retail Park store in Portsmouth, was suspended for allegedly refusing to obey staff dress standards. | Adam Austin, who works at the Victory Retail Park store in Portsmouth, was suspended for allegedly refusing to obey staff dress standards. |
Morrisons had said it banned bracelets and badges for food safety reasons. | Morrisons had said it banned bracelets and badges for food safety reasons. |
In a statement, the company said it had "got the balance wrong" and expressed its support for the armed forces. | |
Mr Austin, from Buckland, Portsmouth, had been asked by two senior members of staff on Monday to remove the Help for Heroes wristband. | |
'Lives on the line' | |
A disciplinary letter from the company said he was first asked to remove the Royal British Legion poppy pin on his name badge, but refused. | |
He was then spoken to by another member of staff, who said he had breached the dress code but Mr Austin then put on a Help For Heroes wristband - and kept the pin on. | |
Mr Austin had said he had worn the poppy pin "out of respect" for murdered soldier Lee Rigby, as well as his own friends in the Army. | |
Chief executive Dalton Philips said Morrisons had changed its policy following concern from customers. | Chief executive Dalton Philips said Morrisons had changed its policy following concern from customers. |
"Colleagues not preparing fresh food will now be able to wear a pin badge or bracelet to show their support for registered charities like Help for Heroes," he said. | "Colleagues not preparing fresh food will now be able to wear a pin badge or bracelet to show their support for registered charities like Help for Heroes," he said. |
"So Adam can return to work and wear his poppy with pride. | "So Adam can return to work and wear his poppy with pride. |
"It's really important to me that we show our support for our armed forces. | |
"They do really hard work on our behalf. They put their lives on the line every day." |
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