Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Employee Told To Remove US Flag Pin
News4Jax ^ | 14th October 2011 | Hailey Winslow

Posted on 10/14/2011 3:57:32 AM PDT by atlas_smugged

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Sean May has been wearing an American flag pin to work every day for the last two years.

"In this day, I kind of feel like it has a little bit more of a powerful meaning than just a pin on somebody's jacket, and I wear it with pride because I like where I live and I love this country," May said.

The 26-year-old front desk supervisor at Casa Monica Hotel in the heart of downtown St. Augustine was told to take the pin off Thursday because it violates company policy.

"I've actually gotten probably more compliments about it than any of the service I've actually done at the hotel, which is an interesting concept," May said. "And I told her, I said, 'I don't feel I need to take this off,' and she told me, 'Well, you've got a choice. You can go home or you can remove the pin.' And I said, 'Well, I'm not going to remove the pin, so I guess I'm going home.'"

May said Casa Monica recently had a change in command at the corporate level and is trying to revamp its image.

A spokesperson for the hotel released this statement: "Casa Monica has always had the personal appearance guidelines, and they are currently being enforced."

"It seems silly. It seems so, so silly in the long run," May said. "They're so upset about a little pin, and yet I come to work every day and flying over the hotel there's a gigantic American flag."

May said he loves his job, but he's willing to risk it to stand up for what he feels is right.

"Why would I want to work for a company that isn't going to be supportive of what I believe in and what I'm working towards?" May said. "I think that if they do get rid of me over this, it will open a lot of eyes for other people."

May is so avid about trying to change the company policy that he wrote a letter to the corporate office.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antiamerican; flag; freemarkets; marriothotels; marrriot; tin; unpatriotic; usa
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last
To: GatorGirl

R U a libertarian?


21 posted on 10/14/2011 5:15:04 AM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: central_va

Thanks for your input.

My point remains. A private company can implement any uniform policy they wish. Yes even to the point of banning the wearing of the American flag. What about the satanist? It’s his/her religion. Where does it end?

You are free to not frequent that establishment.


22 posted on 10/14/2011 5:16:52 AM PDT by GatorGirl (Herman Cain 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: BigEdLB

Picture with pearl necklace —

Obama’s Hatchet Man.


23 posted on 10/14/2011 5:18:26 AM PDT by Surrounded_too
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: GatorGirl

Your argument requires that one equates the two; satanism and the USA. It is a fools argument, stupid. You are an embarrassment.


24 posted on 10/14/2011 5:20:53 AM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: GatorGirl
It ends where the company wants it to end. Saying US flag pins are acceptable but no others is a perfectly valid rule for their US branch.

Sorry, silly argument. Something akin to saying if they allow beef in the cafeteria then they must allow cannibalism as well.

25 posted on 10/14/2011 5:24:23 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (*Philosophy lesson 117-22b: Anyone who demands to be respected is undeserving of it.*)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: GatorGirl
My point remains. A private company can implement any uniform policy they wish. Yes even to the point of banning the wearing of the American flag. What about the satanist? It’s his/her religion. Where does it end?

You make a good point. The company may fear a lawsuit from others wishing to wear other pins. Or outre pins.

26 posted on 10/14/2011 5:30:08 AM PDT by decimon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: CAluvdubya

That makes no sense
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Actually not a whole lot has made sense since Nov 2008, when the ‘Office of the President Elect was invented’ and (most) everyone but the ‘usual suspects (us)’ said, “isn’t that cute, he is really going to make a difference”.
Oh yes, they did accuse US of being picky about that.
But a good example of how the ‘Liberal’ mind/media works.
“Of course we are going after Perry about his Minister. We never did before but you raised so much ‘Cain’ (pi) that we thought you wanted us to investigate it.
BTW, get those Birth Certificates, tax returns, Social Security Cards and draft deferments brushed off, we will be exploring them”.

Well folks, hows that Hope and Change worked out for you?


27 posted on 10/14/2011 5:40:30 AM PDT by xrmusn ((6/98) If govt involved, the more outlandish a scheme appears, the truer it probably is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: StonyBurk

I agree with whatever the PRIVATE company says. I am sick of people forcing views on private companies. It is exactly the same thing as liberals doing it to government agencies. Everyone needs to stay out of everyone elses business.


28 posted on 10/14/2011 5:47:01 AM PDT by napscoordinator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: GatorGirl

Stop digging... please.


29 posted on 10/14/2011 6:03:17 AM PDT by Tallguy (You can safely ignore anything that precedes the word "But"...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: atlas_smugged
May said Casa Monica recently had a change in command at the corporate level and is trying to revamp its image.

I smell epic fail.

30 posted on 10/14/2011 6:05:12 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (So much stress was put on Bush's Fault that it finally let go, magnitude 6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: decimon
The company may fear a lawsuit from others wishing to wear other pins. Or outre pins.

Theoretical lawsuit. Ask yourself if any individual or even a group is going to be able to afford the legal muscle that it would take to go up against Marriott Corporation on such a fine point? They have entire law firms on retainer for this kinda stuff. If it were to happen then Marriott always has the option to settle, and change the policy. I see no reason for Marriott to jump before they get pushed.

The wearing of a flag lapel pin of the host country for a Marriott employee isn't offending anybody or denying others their rights. Not really.

31 posted on 10/14/2011 6:10:09 AM PDT by Tallguy (You can safely ignore anything that precedes the word "But"...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: atlas_smugged

I switch from my flag pin to my eagle pin daily and I’ve never been told to remove it.....Ki$$ my A$$ would be my response.


32 posted on 10/14/2011 6:12:17 AM PDT by geege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: atlas_smugged
trying to revamp its image

I'd say it's going the wrong way when it bans employees from wearing a national symbol of the country in which the hotel is located. Beyond being silly, Marriot must not be paying attention since such policies have been wildly unpopular recently.

33 posted on 10/14/2011 6:15:08 AM PDT by FourPeas ("Maladjusted and wigging out is no way to go through life, son." -hg)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: atlas_smugged

I’m really glad that so few of my coworkers has read Atlas Shrugged. I’ll wear an Atlas-themed polo to work on occasion...my favorites are Akston’s Diner and Galt’s Gulch.


34 posted on 10/14/2011 6:17:14 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (My dream ticket for 2012 is John Galt & Dagny Taggart!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GatorGirl
I can see their point, sad as it may seem.
What if a Nazi employee wanted to wear a swastika pin> Or a gay employee sported a rainbow pin? A satanist with some occult symbol.

There is no hope for people who cannot differentiate between proudly displaying the flag of our country and sporting symbols like the Nazi Swastika or the homosexual rainbow.

It is that type of shallow, misguided moral equivalency that has brought our culture and society to the point of near disintegration.


35 posted on 10/14/2011 6:47:19 AM PDT by Iron Munro (Obama's secret: "Once you learn to fake sincerity you've got it made")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Iron Munro; GatorGirl

“It is that type of shallow, misguided moral equivalency that has brought our culture and society to the point of near disintegration.”

Which is exactly why organizations have policies such as the one the Casa Monica Hotel is enforcing. They are protecting themselves from those who force their moral equivalency on them by throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Reminds me of the zero tolerance enforced in public schools.


36 posted on 10/14/2011 7:03:41 AM PDT by Francis McClobber
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: GatorGirl
A company has a right to have a uniform policy.

Yup, so long as it's policy, and not arbitrary, this makes sense to me.

I needed to sign a Code of Conduct when I was hired; it covered things like this. (would imagine this guy did, too, it's pretty standard) Of course, the Code was pretty vague, "Business-Appropriate Attire" or some such. But then again, my company keeps me locked away in the basement far away from customers. If I was public-facing, I'd bet that my guidelines would be more specific.

37 posted on 10/14/2011 7:24:16 AM PDT by wbill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator

Citizens can respond to the policies of a private business and let them know with their voices and dollars whether they find a particular policy offensive. In a free market, this type of interaction provides the businesses with valuable information. The business is free to respond to this feedback as they see fit.

Liberals want to force businesses to do as they say using the law, so that neither the public nor the business can do as they see fit, but are restricted by the policies set by politicians and bureaucrats.


38 posted on 10/14/2011 7:28:09 AM PDT by Cara C
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

Comment #39 Removed by Moderator

To: GatorGirl; All
And actually, since it's a Slow Friday, I just perused my company's Code of Conduct.

I was right. The public-facing employees in my company - think Sales, Client Services, and so on - have *very* specific guidelines on what can and can't be worn.

Further, it explains that the employees should be cognizant of what's worn on site with the clients. For instance, if business attire at a site is jeans and T-shirts, don't show up to work there in a 3-piece suit. Or, if the client is (for a poor example) "Armani", don't wear "Gucci".

I didn't pay much attention to this policy as it didn't affect me, really. It's pretty thorough. Makes sense, heads off issues like this one.

40 posted on 10/14/2011 7:33:45 AM PDT by wbill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson