By Phil Galewitz, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
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."
Other large Palm Beach County employers, including Delray Beach-based Office Depot and the Palm Beach County School District, allowed their workers to display the flag at their desks.
At FPL Group Inc. in Juno Beach, some employees were given small flags, said Pat Davis, a company spokeswoman.
At Office Depot, the company sent an e-mail to employees Thursday encouraging them to wear red, white and blue clothing on Friday, said company spokesman Lauren Garvey.
NCCI observed a moment of silence at noon Friday, gathering its workers in the headquarters' atrium. The company also has offered to help businesses affected by the terrorist attacks. The attacks at the World Trade Center and Pentagon will generate thousands of workers compensation claims.
NCCI said it was not directly affected by Tuesday's terrorist attack, though some employees lost family and friends, Bullard said.
Gov. Jeb Bush this week urged all Floridians with flags to fly them. Radio stations and various groups have urged Americans to display the flag this week as a sign of national strength and unity.
NCCI is the only Florida company named in the 2001 Best Workplace for Financial Professionals by CFO magazine in its September issue. It was singled out for its "quality of work life."
NCCI's "company practices enable each employee to create for themselves the proper balance of work and family life," CFO said.
NCCI provides on-site amenities, including child care, gym and a Starbucks cafe. It also has an employee-community volunteer program and flexible work scheduling.
Staff writers Dan Weil, Amy Martinez and Jeff Ostrowski contributed to this story.
phil_galewitz@pbpost.com
"Divisive statements or actions, political or religious discussions and anything else that could ... 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.
Nationalism, by definition, is the UNITING of a people under one cause. It is the OPPOSTIE of divisiveness. A glowing example of typical liberal logic and newspeak.
I especially love the line I highlighted in red... can you imagine ANYTHING being discussed at this concentration camp, including their own memos?
Not anymore, Mr. Bullard. I hope that your clients drop their contracts with you Monday morning after the outcry that is rightly occurring.
BUMP
"We are mindful of our interaction with the communities where we live and work. We recognize our responsibility to be good corporate citizens and to support our communities. "
Also, their board of directors should be informed of this obscene "sensitivity" to the feelings of employees:
Vincent T. Donnelly
President and Chief Operating Officer,
The PMA Insurance Group
Judith A. Blades
Executive Vice President Business Insurance,
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Joseph A. Edwards, Esq.
Roxani M. Gillespie
Partner, Barger & Wolen LLP
Gary R. Gregg
Executive Vice President, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
Raymond W. Jacobsen
Chief Operating Officer Middle Market,
Commercial Insurance Royal and Sun Alliance
John G. Pasqualetto
President and Chief Executive Officer,
Kemper Employers Group, Inc., Kemper Insurance Companies
Gary J. Pon
President and General Manager, Pinnacol Assurance
Ellen A. Rudnick
Executive Director and Clinical Professor,
Entrepreneurship Program Graduate School of Business,
The University of Chicago
Richard F. Russell
President and Chief Executive Officer, Amerisure Companies
D.W. (Bill) Schrempf
President and Chief Executive Officer, NCCI Holdings, Inc.
Kermit C. Smith
President and Chief Operating Officer,
Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company
Thomas P. Staudt
Chief Executive Officer, BenefitPort
Michael V. Tripp
Executive Vice President, American International Companies
Is this company run by democrats or what?
Even in the midst of national crisis, the monster of political correctness dares to rear its ugly head. We need to rid this country of vermin like Chief Executive Officer Bill Schrempf.
I never realized the US flag was a "political" symbol!
I sent those jerks the following e-mail:
"I find it very interesting to find that the artist work showing your facility on this site clearly shows the U.S. flag flying in front of your building. Given this statement by your CEO: "Divisive statements or actions, political or religious discussions and anything else that could ... 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. Your CEOs statement is offensive in the extreme, in the context of banning employees from displaying the U.S. flag in their offices during this time of national crisis. If he wished to avoid divisiness, I submit to him and you that he has instead managed to divide himself and his company from rest of the American people. I am an executive with the state agency that invests our Worker's Compensation funds in the state of Washington. I am not yet aware whether your company does any business in this state -- however, if I find out that it does I can assure you completely that I will use all of my influence and contacts to ensure that your company never does business in this state again."
This company needs a BIG FREEP!!
On the assumption that this campany has an American board of directors, I hope this clymer finds the lady at the unemployment office agrees with him.
And helpfully providing moral support to the enemy.
NCCI's "company practices enable each employee to create for themselves the proper balance of work and family life," CFO said.
NCCI provides on-site amenities, including child care, gym and a Starbucks cafe. It also has an employee-community volunteer program and flexible work scheduling.
NCCI also advertises its services and places want ads in the Palm Beach Post, heh-heh. 8-D