Whole Foods poppy ban causes public backlash

Whole Foods faced swift public backlash after deciding to implement a poppy ban in the workplace for employees. Average Canadians and Whole Foods customers as well as politicians like the Premier of Ontario and Prime Minister Trudeau believed the decision to be a mistake.

Toronto employment lawyer Lior Samfiru from Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke with the Toronto Star on the implications and context of the ban stating “the retailer was within its rights to enforce the ban, but it wasn’t a sound public relations move.”

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After growing attention to the issue and mentions of legislation that would allow employees to wear a poppy during Remembrance Week, Whole Foods has reversed its ban.