KFC worker ‘sacked for wearing poppy’

A FAST food employee who refused to remove his poppy while he was working at KFC says his boss sacked him over health and safety fears.

Dad-of-one Stephen Colquhoun claims he was dismissed when he insisted on wearing the commemorative flower for the war dead, which raises money for veterans’ charity the Royal British Legion.

The fast food chain denies the 23-year-old has been fired - but confirmed staff aren’t allowed to wear poppies because they could pose a health and safety risk in the kitchen.

The branch of KFC in Renfield Street, Glasgow, where the row erupted Google

Stephen said: “I made a donation to the restaurant’s own poppy box and had been wearing my poppy on shift on Friday. But then the boss came over and told me to get it off.

“At first I thought he must be joking, but he kept on demanding I take it off.

“Eventually I told him he’d need to sack me because I wasn’t taking it off.

“At that point he said to me, ‘Fine, just leave now’, and I left.

“My name has been taken off the online rota so I think I can safely say that I have been sacked.”

The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal raises money for the charity The Sun

Stephen, from Drumchapel, Glasgow, had been working at the city’s Renfield Street branch of KFC when the row broke out before the weekend, he told the Daily Record.

He added: “I think it is a disgrace that you can’t wear a poppy.

“It should be everyone’s right to show their respect for the war dead if they want to.

“I had handed in my notice to KFC and was only due to work for another couple of weeks, but I could have done with the cash from my last few shifts.”

Stephen Colquhoun Facebook

A KFC spokesman said: “The poppy appeal is a great cause and many of our restaurants support it through donation boxes including the Renfield Street restaurant.

“Wearing any type of badge or pin while working in a kitchen poses a foreign body risk so isn’t allowed for health and safety reasons.

“The team member has not been dismissed but we are currently looking into the matter.”