Petitions calling on bakery firm Birds to take cash from customers and to re-instate a former employee have now hit almost 30,000 signatures.
The chain was criticised for its policy after former manager Megan Metcalfe was dismissed from the Radcliffe-on-Trent store for allowing older customers to pay by cash. She would ask them to put money in her purse and then use her card to pay for their goods.
As of Monday, August 10, the petitions combined had reached more than 29,900 signatures.
One of those to set up a petition was Katherine Clarke, of the Meadows, who called for Birds to take cash and re-instate Megan.
She said at the time: "It was unfathomable what happened to Megan. There's been so much anger about it with comments being put everywhere. She was trying to help customers.
"This situation should never have happened.
"Many elderly people don't have a card and only use cash - it's what they know. So many businesses are accepting cash still and this should be the same."
The incident caused outrage but Birds, which is headquartered in Derby, doubled down on its policy and said it was 'sorry that so many people are upset about Megan Metcalfe’s dismissal from Birds but she contravened our health and safety policy and we took that very seriously'.
Lesley Bird, chief operating officer at Birds Bakery, added after the petitions were launched: “We are aware of the petition and we are also aware of another petition started by elderly customers in support of Birds.
"Those people are supportive of our card-only policy at this time and recognise we are trying to keep our staff and customers safe.
“Birds and a number of big operators have a card-only policy during this pandemic. We are constantly reviewing our Covid-19 procedures, including the re-introduction of cash payments."
She went on to say Megan would not be re-instated and that she had gained new employment.
