Since receiving major backlash for its poppy ban Whole Foods employees will now be allowed to wear poppies on the job. Canada's Minister of Veterans Affairs spoke to the Whole Foods COO.
My statement on poppies at @WholeFoods: pic.twitter.com/oU2ATvSnto
— Lawrence MacAulay (@L_MacAulay) November 6, 2020
Grocery chain Whole Foods Market faced sharp criticism Friday for a policy that forbids employees from wearing poppies, prompting the federal government to reach out to the company and Ontario's premier to promise legislation that would prohibit such a rule.
The policy is a blanket ban on anything other than the retailer's basic uniform -- a Whole Foods apron, coat or vest, hat, and standard-issue name tag -- and doesn't single out poppies, the Amazon-owned chain said.
The rule nonetheless drew widespread condemnation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government has been in touch with the U.S.-based company, which has 14 locations across Canada.
"Whole Foods has made a silly mistake that I'm hoping they will correct very quickly," he said.
Trudeau's comments came as the House of Commons adopted a motion by unanimous consent calling on all Canadian employers to allow their staff to wear poppies during Veterans Week, which began Thursday.
BC Premier John Horgan shared his anger over Twitter saying that Whole Foods needs to do some reflective thinking.
C’mon @WholeFoods. Wearing a poppy for Remembrance Day and Aboriginal Veterans Day is about honouring people who have given so much in service to others. Give your heads a shake. #LestWeForgethttps://t.co/nEsVixhJ6X
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) November 6, 2020
Meanwhile, Ontario's premier said he would take action to ensure everyone is able to wear a poppy while at work.
"I find it absolutely disgraceful. I find it disgusting," Doug Ford said of the Whole Foods policy during an appearance in Ottawa on Friday. "We're going to introduce legislation immediately that permits any employee -- any employee, no matter where you work -- to wear a poppy."
Thank you to @loblawco https://t.co/NTTHU1diN4
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 6, 2020
The premier's office said details of the legislation are still being ironed out.
Whole Foods said it updated its dress-code policy last month to specify the ban on anything other than the standard uniform in an effort to clarify the rules for employees.
"Whole Foods Market honours the men and women who have and continue to bravely serve their country," a spokeswoman said. "With the exception of those items required by law, our dress code policy prohibits any additions to our standard uniform."
The retailer will observe a moment of silence on Remembrance Day and donate to the Royal Canadian Legion's poppy campaign, the spokeswoman said.
Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay tweeted that the chain's poppy prohibition is "absolutely unacceptable."
This is absolutely unacceptable — the poppy is an important symbol of remembrance, and it’s more important than ever that everyone support the @RoyalCdnLegion’s Poppy Campaign this year. #CanadaRemembers https://t.co/bpSRcDP7zD
— Lawrence MacAulay (@L_MacAulay) November 6, 2020
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, who is a veteran, said that the past sacrifices of Canadian soldiers "provides the freedom for a U.S. grocery chain to be stupid today."
Quick video on Woke Foods. #LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/539QiBD9HL
— Erin O'Toole (@erinotoole) November 6, 2020
The leader of the Bloc Quebecois, who was wearing a poppy, said that while he disapproves of Whole Foods rule, he'll express his disappointment by refusing to shop there, rather than legislating the problem away.
"I would rather have them let their employees wear it, but not to the point where I would make politics about it," he said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the poppy policy is part of a broader issue at the company.
It was wrong when they banned staff expressing support for Black Lives Matter and it’s wrong to ban the Poppy.
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) November 6, 2020
Canadians shouldn't lose the right to honour the sacrifices of veterans when they go to work.https://t.co/3hEfXgASwS
A federal lawsuit filed in Boston on July 20 alleges that the supermarket chain disciplined, intimidated and retaliated against workers who wore Black Lives Matter face coverings earlier this year.
According to that lawsuit, store managers cited the company dress code, which prohibits slogans or logos not affiliated with the company, as the reason for prohibiting Black Lives Matter messages.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Canadian Legion, which runs the poppy campaign every year, said the organization doesn't understand the reasoning behind the Whole Foods dress-code policy.
"While retailers must set their own corporate policies, unless there are safety concerns we do encourage wearing poppies at all times as a show of respect for our Fallen, and as a symbol that helps educate Canadians about the sacrifices of our Veterans," Nujma Bond said in an email.
Other grocery chains such as Sobeys are also weighing in on the controversy, highlighting their own policies that embrace poppy-wearing.
Our store teammates are finding unique ways to keep the spirit of Remembrance Day alive in this unprecedented year. You can support your local legion in store or online via @RoyalCdnLegion My Poppy campaign: https://t.co/dgiPzvuklw #lestweforget #showusyourpoppy pic.twitter.com/lTGTwCqEkV
— Sobeys (@sobeys) November 6, 2020
Loblaws, meanwhile, was more direct.
We allow and encourage our colleagues across the country to wear poppies. We have supported our veterans through poppy sales for years, and are making a donation to the Royal Canadian Legion. We encourage all Canadians to do the same at https://t.co/IMR3PboWE6 #LestWeForget
— Loblaw Companies (@loblawco) November 6, 2020
