MAY E. SNOWDEN
Chief Diversity Officer
Eastman Kodak Company
Posted on 10/21/2002 11:48:03 AM PDT by rochester
Rochester, NY - A Greece man, who was fired a few days ago from Eastman Kodak, said giving his opinion in an e-mail lead to his termination. Kodak's diversity group sent out an e-mail asking employees to "be supportive" of colleagues who choose to come out on Gay and Lesbian Coming-Out Day. Rolf Szabo replied to the memo telling the company not to send him this type of information and that he found it "disgusting and offensive."
"I said it and I meant it. I'm not going to take it back," Szabo said.
Although Szabo does not condone the gay lifestyle, he said this isn't a gay issue. Rather, he said, it's an issue of Kodak crossing the line via e-mail.
"I don't need this to do my job. It has nothing to do with gay. It could've been any other topic. It's just that enough is enough. We really don't need this to do our jobs," he said.
Szabo said Kodak wanted him to sign a letter admitting he was wrong. He said after he refused, he was fired. A Kodak spokesperson said Kodak won't comment about personnel issues, but did say that any issues related to the treatment of employees are universal.
Szabo, who had been with Kodak for 23 years working with metals, said he'll get legal advice whether his rights were violated.
Labor and Employment attorney Matt Fusco said that he thinks Szabo has very few options and no chance of winning a lawsuit because employers cannot discriminate.
"If an employer goes a step further and promote diversity--you have no right to oppose that policy," Fusco said.
"The Eastman Kodak Company gives me a paycheck; they don't own me. I'll go somewhere else for a paycheck, that's all," Szabo said.
Whether or not he ends up filing a lawsuit, Szabo said he will pursue the issue claiming Kodak is wrong for catering to a select group versus a larger Kodak community.
Kodak is so clearly over the line on this, they are going to eat crow, and the backstairs-climbing, sneak-politicking, insider-game-playing gays that strung this guy up because he wouldn't sign on the dotted line are going to be the ones who lose their jobs.
At Enron, they had similar gay-friendly policies, and nobody knew why. Then the Houston Chronicle outed Michael Kopper, who was the No. 3 or No. 4 executive in the firm, as an insider "power gay".
This is what liberals do inside corporations. Their own anaerobic politics thrives in the anaerobic environment of an executive organization, where nothing is quite true and nothing is firm and fast, and the rules change all the time, where personnel is policy.
The Chronicle outed Kopper during the unraveling of the scandal because outing him was relevant to certain arrangements that Kopper had with the company concerning his boyfriend.
How hypocritical of them. This is how you ARE to believe, if not, you're fired! We can't even put up Christmas displays at work and yet were supposed to support disgusting and sick sexual behavior at work of all places?
Fascist Kodak has seen my last dime.
As a matter of policy, we don't comment on individual personnel matters, but we can assure you that Kodak carefully and thoroughly reviews all personnel matters.
Kodak is committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce and an inclusive work environment. Our diversity is one of the reasons we're the leading imaging company in the world. The diversity of our workforce - the scope and depth of the talent, ideas and experiences we bring to bear - combine to make Kodak products and services the best in the industry.
We thank you for your e-mail, and we will pass your comments along to Kodak management. Eastman Kodak Company
Excellent! I could not have said this better. To support a company whose ideals you vehemently object to just because they are an American company is not consistent with my beliefs either.
Easy! In the first case you are telling everyone how much you like banging men. Big difference! One's perfectly acceptable in public (including schools, places of employment, etc.) and the other is not.
Concerning your treatment of Mr. Rolf Szabo and your corporate "diversity" policy, I find it extremely puzzling why companies such as Kodak, that espouse tolerance and diversity, are often among the most intolerant when someone has an opinion that does not match the coporate view of what one should think or say.
I have never been in a Kodak office, but I would be willing to bet that Kodak's tolerance does not extend to someone displaying an emblem of Christian faith at their desk. Yet, the ability of a small group to flaunt their sexual perversions is readily embraced. The word hypocrisy comes readily to mind. Only certain forms of tolerance are acceptable apparently.
Based on this relevation of your policies, my company will be adopting a policy of not purchasing any Kodak products or services, including ophoto.com. We will also make sure to try to influence as many people as possible to cease their use of Kodak products and services. While your coporate officers have indicated in their press releases that a product boycott is of no concern to them, I feel it is just as important to me and my company that we only support companies that are truly tolerant - not those that try to advance a radical social agenda under the false guise of tolerance and diversity.
Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
Kodak's future is getting dim - even aside from self-inflicted wounds inviting boycotts.
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Dear Mr. XXXXX,
As a matter of policy, we don't comment on individual personnel matters,
but we can assure you that Kodak carefully and thoroughly reviews all personnel matters.
Kodak is committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce and
an inclusive work environment. Our diversity is one of the reasons we're the leading imaging company in the world. The diversity of our workforce - the scope and depth of the talent, ideas and experiences we bring to bear - combine to make Kodak products and services the best in the industry.
We thank you for your e-mail, and we will pass your comments along to Kodak management.
Eastman Kodak Company
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I'm still waiting for them to have a "Celebrate Jesus" or "Bring your Gun to the Office" day to ensure that all things are truly diverse....
Until that time, Fuji or AGFA will be getting my money.
MAY E. SNOWDEN
Chief Diversity Officer
Eastman Kodak Company
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