Posted on 06/18/2016 5:37:23 AM PDT by Iron Munro
TAMPA — A pride flag waving outside the Hillsborough County center was meant to be a sign of respect and remembrance for the victims of the shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando.
But just a day after it was raised, Commissioner Stacy White said it may be offending Christian employees and questioned whether it should be taken down.
In an email sent to the the county human relations director Peggy Rowe on Thursday, White said he received an anonymous complaint from a county employee that the presence of the flag was “nearly unbearable” for her to pass on her way to work and created a “hostile work environment.”
Calling the rainbow flag a “divisive, politically-charged symbol,” White asked Rowe if it could become an HR problem for the county. If it does, then White said he wanted a special meeting of the county commission to consider removing it.
Commissioners voted 5-1 on Wednesday to hang the flag for the rest of June, which is Pride Month, after 49 people were killed at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando on Sunday. The shooter, Omar Mateen, reportedly targeted the bar because it is a well-known LGBT hangout. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
White, a Republican who represents east Hillsborough County, was not present for the meeting. The flag was raised immediately after Wednesday’s meeting.
Even if this isn’t an HR problem, White criticized County Administrator Mike Merrill for allowing commissioners to vote to raise the flag without telling them that some employees may have issue with it.
“It is still – in my view – unconscionable that the county administrator didn’t express to the board that this divisive symbol might create an uncomfortable workplace environment for many of his employees,” White wrote.
In a memo to commissioners Thursday, Merrill defended himself against White’s charge, saying he was “not aware of any employee complaint or concern having been expressed prior to the Board’s action.” He also said the decision to raise the flag followed commission protocols.
“I believe that I had no reasonable basis to believe that the Board’s action would create a hostile or uncomfortable work environment,” Merrill wrote.
The county’s HR department will investigate the complaint, he said.
In addition to raising the pride flag, the commission voted to recognize June as LGBT pride month every year and hold a candlelight vigil each year on June 12 to remember the victims of the Orlando shooting.
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Here’s Commissioner Stacy White’s full letter to HR director Peggy Rowe:
Peggy,
My office recently received an anonymous phone call from a county employee stating that, because of her strong Christian beliefs, it will be nearly unbearable for her pass the “pride” flag each morning as she enters the workplace. She clearly indicated that the display of that flag, for her, has created a hostile work environment.
My question is, given the nature of this employee complaint, has the board’s action taken this past Wednesday created any issues for the county from a Human Resources perspective? If the display of this flag exposes the county any liability whatsoever, I request that it be taken down on the basis that the board’s action has violated the workplace rights of some of our employees. If liability exists and board action is still required to remove the flag, I would like to request a special called meeting of the county commission in order to discuss the unforeseen consequences of this display and allow for the board to take another vote on the display given the information now at its disposal.
I wish to state for the record that, even if there is deemed to be zero liability from an HR perspective, it is still – in my view – unconscionable that the county administrator didn’t express to the board that this divisive symbol might create an uncomfortable workplace environment for many of his employees.
Again, please let me know what, if any, Human Resources challenges that this display creates and how, if necessary, this might be remedied. I’m quite concerned that I have a documented case of an employee feeling that she is working in a hostile work environment because of this divisive, politically-charged symbol being displayed at our workplace.
Sincerely,
Stacy White
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Here’s County Administrator Mike Merrill’s memo in response
Given the nature of the issue raised in Commissioner White’s email, I thought it appropriate to apprise the entire Board. I have advised Commissioner White that I am doing so.
First, it is important to point out that the process by which the Board voted on June 15 to display the Pride Flag conforms in all respects to the Board’s rules. As you recall, the County Attorney advised the Board accordingly prior to the vote.
Commissioner White’s email indicates that his office has received an anonymous complaint from an employee who claims that the display of the Pride Flag creates a “hostile environment”. Although the complaint is anonymous, the Human Resources Department and the County Attorney’s Office are looking into the issue.
I also want to respond to Commissioner White’s statement that it is “ . . . unconscionable that the county administrator didn’t express to the board that this divisive symbol might create an uncomfortable workplace environment for many of his employees”. I am not aware of any employee complaint or concern having been expressed prior to the Board’s action. I believe that I had no reasonable basis to believe that the Board’s action would create a hostile or uncomfortable work environment.
I will keep you apprised of our analysis of this issue.
Oh, HR will investigate alright.
And the Christian employee who complained will either be re-educated or fired.
Pull it down and set it on fire, if they raise another, pull that down and burn it too, over and over. Raise the Gadsden flag instead, or the Rebel flag. Ha.
The problem unstated is that it is now open season on queers for Islamic gunners
The event in Orlando was but the first day
By jove, I’ve got it! Do the anonymous complaint thing again, but this time say you’re a MUSLIM who is extremely disturbed and offended!!!! Lol the fudgepack flag will be yanked down immediately!!!
In OBamamerica It’s OK to offend Christians, just don’t offend anyone else. </sarc
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, I say. If ONLY ONE person is offended by that infernal flag, then it must come down.
Maybe people should realize that this is not a gay thing. Nothwithstanding their disgusting personal perversions, 49 Americans were killed.
The county should not be posting a homo flag.
I’ve considered purchasing a rainbow flag and if I ever see a SJW crowd trashing the American flag, I’d like to go burn the homo flag and see what happens.
Three things. I don’t want to be arrested, I don’t want to die and I don’t want to give any money to support their agenda.
I just,took my umpteenth HR sensitivity training about “hostile workplaces.” This clearly does that. Kudos,to the brave employee who spoke up and complained and most of all to Commissioner Stacy White for her powerful memo. Maybe this is FINALLY the start of a long overdue push-back.
Exactly!
If a Muslim complained, HR’s heads would explode!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3441117/posts?page=17#17
PHOOEY to the detestable rainbow flag!!!!
Here’s a totally overlooked detail: the flag was raised immediately following the board vote. That means the flag had already been procured. The commissioner’s next step ought to be finding out who authorized the procurement order and under what provision of board action was it done prior to the recent vote. There’s your skunk in the woodpile, IMO.
Agree. Pull the damn thing down, stomp it and burn it.
Wanna bet what the reaction of the frogressives will be?
No matter, it is long, long past time to shove it back to them...in spades.
Good catch.
If it were a Confederate flag, they’d have taken it down already, based on “offense” and “hate.”
I know I am preaching to the choir, but isn’t an American flag good enough?
If someone killed Americans inside an Irish-American pub, would they fly the flag of Ireland?
If someone killed Americans inside a Christian church, would they put a cross up in front of the city hall to show support?
If they don’t allow a Nativity display or a Merry Christmas sign on city grounds, then why the exception for sexual orientation?
Libtard victim groups in collision!
What is the democrat party hierarchy?
It seems that for now the Homos reign supreme.
Blacks are somewhere far down the list and rapidly heading for the bottom.
on the subject of your response.....
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3441410/posts?page=63#63
More justification for Christian employees to be offended by a homosexual symbol, than for spoiled brat college students by Trump chalkmarks on the sidewalks
Besides, weren’t almost all of the Orlando victims Christians?
The left is “offended” by Christian symbols but it’s ok to put up a flag of perversion and sin
——weren’t almost all of the Orlando victims Christians?-—
No. I’ve never seen the issue raised and there is certainly evidence to support that statement
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