Ncci Pulls Workers' Flags

Tokeniso

Senior member
May 13, 2001
421
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Saturday, September 15, 2001


On a day of national mourning and prayer, a Boca Raton company had its managers confiscate some American flags from employees' cubicles, saying other workers might find them offensive.

NCCI Holdings Inc., a company that compiles workers compensation insurance data, told its 850 Boca Raton employees that displays of nationalism had no place in the office.

"Divisive statements or actions, political or religious discussions and anything else that could be divisive or mean different things to different people are not appropriate in our work environment," Chief Executive Officer Bill Schrempf said Friday in a memo to employees.

Several employees complained about the flag prohibition. One employee said she was suspended and told to go home Friday morning when she refused to remove a small flag from her desk. The company refused to confirm whether it had asked any employees to leave.

"It just boggles my mind that here in America or anywhere in America, one would be restricted from displaying it," one employee wrote in an e-mail to Schrempf that also was sent to The Palm Beach Post. "Too many people these days, including yourself, it seems, seem to forget what the flag symbolizes and that many men and women served to defend that flag. I think you should show a little more respect."

NCCI spokesman Michael Bullard said the company has a long-standing policy of prohibiting employees from bringing political or religious symbols into the workplace.

Fewer than 10 flags were removed from cubicles, Bullard said. "It seems to me only a small number of people are upset about this," he said.

Palm Beach Gardens human resources consultant Rita Craig said companies need to understand that "right now, more than ever, people want to celebrate the fact that they're American."

"Let's face it, this is the United States. Our flag signifies our freedom," Craig said. "It's not saying that other countries are bad."

THIS IS HORRIBLE IMHO




NCCI HOLDINGS

 

j0lly

Platinum Member
Jul 30, 2001
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I don't have an opinion on this matter. This was probably done to diffuse the tensions being high amogst the peoples. After all, a flag can unite but can also create segregation.
 

Static911

Diamond Member
Nov 24, 2000
4,338
1
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j00ly is correct

my father owns a company; you would be amazed what, how and WHY ppl can sue a company.

static911
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,380
8,509
126
being in the united states of america it should be my unabridged right to fly the united states of america's flag wherever i so please.
 

j0lly

Platinum Member
Jul 30, 2001
2,885
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<< Email them and tell the company how you feel.

j0lly, are your parents beatnicks?
>>



Why the personal attacks? We are in this together. I have many friends working at the WTC that I have not heard from. Please refrain from such ignorant comments.
 

GoldenBear

Banned
Mar 2, 2000
6,843
2
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<< Email them and tell the company how you feel.

j0lly, are your parents beatnicks?
>>

Grow the hell up.

How old are you again? 12, 13?
 

Static911

Diamond Member
Nov 24, 2000
4,338
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common ppl, tell me. Tried doing search on yahoo for beatnicks? Is that a slang? IF so, for what? thanx

static911
 

reitz

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
3,878
2
76
Just received this in email:



On a day of national mourning and prayer, a Boca Raton company had its managers confiscate some American flags from employees' cubicles, saying other workers might find them offensive.

NCCI Holdings Inc., a company that compiles workers compensation insurance data, told its 850 Boca Raton employees that displays of nationalism had no place in the office.

"Divisive statements or actions, political or religious discussions and anything else that could be divisive or mean different things to different people are not appropriate in our work environment," Chief Executive Officer Bill Schrempf said Friday in a memo to employees.

Several employees complained about the flag prohibition. One employee said she was suspended and told to go home Friday morning when she refused to remove a small flag from her desk. The company refused to confirm whether it had asked any employees to leave.

"It just boggles my mind that here in America or anywhere in America, one would be restricted from displaying it," one employee wrote in an e-mail to Schrempf that also was sent to The Palm Beach Post. "Too many people these days, including yourself, it seems, seem to forget what the flag symbolizes and that many men and women served to defend that flag. I think you should show a little more respect."

NCCI spokesman Michael Bullard said the company has a long-standing policy of prohibiting employees from bringing political or religious symbols into the workplace.

Fewer than 10 flags were removed from cubicles, Bullard said. "It seems to me only a small number of people are upset about this," he said.

Palm Beach Gardens human resources consultant Rita Craig said companies need to understand that "right now, more than ever, people want to celebrate the fact that they're American."

"Let's face it, this is the United States. Our flag signifies our freedom," Craig said. "It's not saying that other countries are bad."


During times of national tragedy, Americans have always come together like no other nation. We support our citizens and our government, and always rise to any challenge that is presented. I've been moved to tears more times than I can count during the past week, and my pride in the USA has increase 100-fold.

Companies like NCCI Holdings show us all how far we have to go, however. Even in the face of such a national tragedy, its management felt that displaying the US flag might be offensive to certain employees. Nevermind the fact that nearly every American has rallied behind our cause, or that most of the rest of the world has expressed their support (see http://www.fatwallet.com/thankyou.htm). NCCI has shown that it is not able to grasp the significance of last Tuesday's events, and that patriotism is counter-productive to its business interests.

I believe that we all need to show NCCI Holdings what true AMERICANS are all about.

Let's boycott the company. I realize that the average citizen has almost nothing to do with them, but we all have at least a small amount of influence over the business decisions made by the companies we work for. Please encourage your employer to refuse to do business with NCCI Holdings. Ask that they choose another business that supports our government and citizens. Express your outrage by contacting NCCI Holdings. Email them at mark_dobry@NCCI.COM and customer_service@ncci.com, or fill out their webform at http://www.ncci.com/nccisearch/contact/contact_main1.htm.

Thank you. We, as Americans, should not tolerate companies like NCCI that continue their political correctness crap while the rest of our country deals with the tragedy of last Tuesday. The attack was against all American citizens, regardless of what the management of NCCI believes. Let us all show our resolve, and show this company how we feel.
 

GoldenBear

Banned
Mar 2, 2000
6,843
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<< common ppl, tell me. Tried doing search on yahoo for beatnicks? Is that a slang? IF so, for what? thanx

static911
>>

Basically it's derogretory (sp?) slang term.

In other words, reitz was being mean to the good j0lly :(
 

Static911

Diamond Member
Nov 24, 2000
4,338
1
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aite, thanks goldenbear

i figured it was derogatory, but didn't know specifically what.

static911
 

GoldenBear

Banned
Mar 2, 2000
6,843
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What good will boycotting do? Why hurt the business of an entire company for the doings of a few people in managment?

In other words, why make a lot of people suffer for the wrong doings of a small number of people?
 

reitz

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
3,878
2
76


<< Why the personal attacks? >>

That was not an attack, it was a question. You've been speaking out against military action against the terrorists, and you've been the first to speak out for "diffus[ing] the tensions being high amogst the peoples. After all, a flag can unite but can also create segregation."

So far, even with numerous challenges to do so, you've offered no alternate solutions. I would have suggested that your parents were hippies, but so many hippies have shown their support for our country, so I didn't want to offend that group by associating you or your parents with them.

It's fine if you want to disagree with the popular sentiment, but if you want to gain legitimacy for your "cause", you need to offer an alternate solution.
 

Mrburns2007

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2001
2,595
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0
If you sued your company over the American flag would you win ?

I'm assuming the lawsuit would be filed in the United States. If so I believe a worker complaining about a flag can bite me!
 

reitz

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
3,878
2
76


<< In other words, reitz was being mean to the good j0lly :( >>

GoldenBear scores a bingo! Say what you want about him, but at least he has some common sense. ;)
 

GoldenBear

Banned
Mar 2, 2000
6,843
2
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A question I have is whether people would be offended if someone held a communist or nazi flag over their office space. Or, more prevalent to the situation, a picture of bin Laden surrounded by candles.
 

Phil21

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2000
1,015
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GB: One of your questions has absolutely no relevence to the situation. None. Whatsoever.

First off, people are not having pictures of GWB with candles around him. So, that was quite off the mark. Where did that even come from anyways?

Second, if this office were in any other country, I would expect as a worker to see that countries flags flying out in front of the building, and on a few works desks/cubes. I would obviously not go to a country expecting everyone to fly a US flag or anyone elses. Same goes for here, essentially this employer is stating that US citizenship is something to be ashamed of and hidden. Yet most if not all of these employees are US citizens, so it makes no sense whatsoever.

I wonder what they do if (god forbid) a worker wheres a US olympic team jacket, or one of those old navy 4th of July shirts. Gimme a break. I wonder if this place gives it's employees time off for Indepence Day since it's obviously so controversial to be patriotic.

Basically my point is the idea is absolutely obsurd that you're going to deny the right of your employees to fly the flag of the country you're doing business in. It downright pisses me off, I'm almost willing to say I wish that executive and his management team were in the WTC buildings instead of the poeple that were, as they obviously do not think the country they make their huge salaries in is worth being proud of.

Blah.

-Phil


 

b1er

Member
Oct 9, 1999
101
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Someone might want to ask them why they have flags flying out in front of the headquarters if they disallow them from being displayed inside. See here
 

Yzzim

Lifer
Feb 13, 2000
11,990
1
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NCCI now has a "new policy" stating that it's OK to show US flags on your desk/cubicle

Just heard it on Fox News who's been giving them hell for the past 2 hours now :)
 

ignorus

Golden Member
Dec 30, 1999
1,147
0
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Why do some consider it bad for us to display the United States of America's flag IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ? Have we become so politically correct now that we are now willing to throw away our heritage so that 5% of the population does not feel uncomfortable ?
 

MajesticMoose

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2000
3,030
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0
If someone in this country is offended by our flag, they can go home, plain and simple. I don't understand how it could be offensive to anyone living in this country. If you find a symbol of the place where you are living to be offensive, wouldn't being here be unbearable

m00se

BTW just to clarify, I have nothing against any particular group or foriegners as a whole, just dumbasses like this.
 

351Cleveland

Golden Member
Apr 14, 2001
1,381
6
81
Yeah, it is a sad commentary on the PC movement. There should be a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT granting of the right to display the US flag (in a reasonable fashion) anywhere. Period.