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NCCI pulls workers' flags

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.

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Resident Board Socialist
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saying other workers might find them offensive.

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PASADENA, Texas -- Most Americans, including children, want to show their national pride by wearing the colors of the United States flag -- the red, the white and the blue.
But when two Pasadena children wore T-shirts showing their pride, they were told it wasn't appropriate, according to a News2Houston report.

Because today was deemed a national day of prayer and remembrance by President Bush, Desert Storm veteran Donnie Meyer wanted to pass on patriotism to his two daughters. So, he allowed his 7-year-old and 9-year-old to wear T-shirts with the American flag emblazoned on them to school at McMasters Elementary School.

He never thought there would be a problem.

However, the school's principal asked 7-year-old Ashley to change her shirt because it wasn't part of the school's dress code.

The Pasadena Independent School District's assistant superintendent points out that McMasters remembered Tuesday's tragedy during several school programs Friday, and the T-shirt incident was merely a mistake.

The school district maintains that they allow each school to determine their own dress code, but Assistant Superintendent Kirk Lewis said that the Meyer children and other students will be allowed to wear American flags on their shirts on similar occasions like today's remembrances.

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Resident Board Socialist
Email me here or IM me at stickysituation2 or pinkorag
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It actually sounds like something my Nazi company would do.

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"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.

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NCCI Holdings, Inc. Values
We have a bias to action. We work corporately and individually to return value to our stakeholders. We challenge ourselves to develop new products and services that will provide the highest value to our customers. We continually strive to answer the question—"What is best for my customers?"—and act accordingly with their best interests in mind.

We have confidence in our ability to deliver. We celebrate our diversity, ideas and knowledge. We embrace trust and respect, continuously seeking to create a family-friendly workplace. We endeavor to effect positive change in the organization by taking risks and exploring new growth opportunities, both personally and professionally.

We take time to plan and reflect upon our actions. We recognize and learn from our failures, and we celebrate our successes.

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.

We are committed to using our experience and knowledge to enhance today's products and services and to create new ones that generate significant value for our customers and all those we serve.

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if you are offended by our flag, theres no reason for you to even be here in the first place.

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Sluggo667

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this is still a free country,

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I see a red door and i want it painted black
No colors anymore i want them to turn black

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NCCI said it was not directly affected by Tuesday's terrorist attack, though some employees lost family and friends, Bullard said.

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You would think people were putting up the Confederate flag or something.

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I can't believe the news today
Oh, I can't close my eyes
And make it go away