Workplace Poppy Ban - Unlawful Discrimination?

In a year where there is an expectation that the annual Poppy Appeal might raise a record £40 million, some employers (and governing bodies) are refusing to allow their employees to wear poppies.

Football governing body FIFA's recent refusal to allow the English and Welsh national teams to have poppies on their strips during international matches has attracted widespread condemnation, with Prime Minister David Cameron branding the ban "appalling". FIFA claimed that allowing poppies on strips would jeopardise the "neutrality of football". Following the reputed intervention of the Duke of Cambridge FIFA relented and allowed poppies to be worn on black armbands to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. An own goal for FIFA?!

On a similar note, the BBC has reported that an online petition supporting the right to wear a poppy at work has attracted nearly 10,000 signatures. The petition originated from the employee of a popular "trendy" clothing store who was told that she could not wear the poppy on her uniform. The employer later amended its policy. This story is just one of a number which have appeared over the past few weeks regarding employers imposing a strict dress code that prevents employees wearing a poppy at work. The intervention of Royalty is one thing, but do employees have any employment law recourse in a tribunal?

The Claimant in Lisk v Shield Guardian Co Ltd (ET/3300873/11) brought a number of discrimination claims, including that he was subjected to religion and belief discrimination in terms of the Equality Act 2010 as his employer is alleged to...