Kodak Employee Fired For Calling "Coming Out Day" "Offensive and Disgusting"

News Source 13 ^ | October 21, 2002 | Mike Doria

[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.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

What's going to be next? Bring-your-same-sex-partner-to-work day? I feel for this guy, and applaud him for sticking to his convictions.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Kodak makes good film, but film will not be able to compete with digital photography for much longer.

[sit-rep]

I would seriously contemplate breaking out the heavy artilliary.

SR

[lds23]

The Greaseman?

That is revolting.

Waddle doodle.

[jigsaw]

No more Kodak film for me, thank you.

[HamiltonJay]

Hope this guy sues them for a bundle. Is it any wonder I don't use or buy Kodak products anymore?

[eno_]

Kodak is, as was pointed out in the article, within their rights to fire this guy.

That said, it was an insanely stupid and costly thing to do, even if they do not get sued. Now Kodak is known as a company that values rigid dogma over a longtime employee with specialist skills. Just the kind of place I want to do business with - NOT.

Kodak would have been much better off taking this guy aside and saying "You are free to think that way, just keep it quiet at work." They should fire some morons at HR, too.

[Lou L]

Szabo said Kodak wanted him to sign a letter admitting he was wrong

What kind of Gestapo tactics are those? What would that sort of documentation accomplish?

[TXBubba]

I think they could sue under the angle of sexual harrassment. After all the e-mail did have to do with sex and not just diversity.

[dd5339]

Looks like it's time for Fuji film!

Semper Fi

[TC Rider]

I admire his convictions, but he's still toast.

You don't poke the boss in the eye.

In the meantime, I've been wanting to try some of that Fujifilm.

[Publius6961]

I am saving this for reading later, but just off the top of my head, experience has shown us that "offensive and disgusting" is only effective in a lwasuit, where it can be repeated over and over, and, of course, with the cooperation of the media.

[Callahan]

I wonder if there's a "Coming Out Day" for people who are born-again Christians or new NRA members. Maybe Kodak should send out an email encouraging employees to be supportive.

[Taxman]

Yup. FujiFilm for me, too.

C'YA, Kodak.

[Gritty]

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.

Really?

It seems Mr. Szabo is the one here who is being truly discriminated against!

[txzman]

'No more Kodak film for me, thank you.'

Ditto for me. At least they did something blatant enough to alert me so that my money can go elsewhere. Fuji is a perfect alternative and is eating Kodak's lunch anyway.

Let's see if we can't help them along into the dumper. (Nothing personal against current Kodak employees - but enough is enough).

[Vidalia]

Fuji Film surpassed Kodak many years ago.

Kodak got artsey-cutesy (maybe now we know why) with differing types of cameras and film whereas Fuji stuck to improving the standards.

This story is just another example of internal problems at Kodak.

[AK2KX]

"If an employer . . . promotes diversity--you have no right to oppose that policy," Fusco said.

WTF?!?!

[mlmr]

What kind of Gestapo tactics are those? What would that sort of documentation accomplish

Just the sort of Gestapo tactic their lawyers contrived to try to hold themselves blameles for this gross injustice to someone who does not want to support immorality.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

In the meantime, I've been wanting to try some of that Fujifilm.

Fuji film works very well, and is a little cheaper than Kodak. I bought Kodak out of loyality to "Made in USA". I will be buying Fuji from now on.

[Iris7]

If this guy had been a member of the Union, instead of a salaried swine like you and me, he would have been home free, or at least not fired. Jobs that will pay the bills are hard to find.

[Guillermo]

Diversity and Tolerance for all, as long as you agree with us.

[WaveThatFlag]

Send your thoughts opinions here:

Daniel A Carp
Chairman/President/CEO
Eastman Kodak Co
343 State Street
Rochester, NY 14650-0218

[mlmr]

Would someone be kind and post a link to Kodak so we can let them know how much we support this man? And how little Kodak film we will be buying? Does Kodak also provide off brand film like Rite aid or others?? Does anyone know?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

...Fuji stuck to improving the standards.

Those homophobic bastards! Competing on the basis of product quality instead of political correctness is illegal. They should be prosecuted!

[Lightnin]

Think Japanese film--it's much better.

[txzman]

Only email contact page/addy I could find. Already dropped them a line telling them I will no longer buy Kodak film for my familie's 4 cameras, nor purcahse any other Kodak product, including the use of Ofoto.com - also a Kodak company.

[IncPen]

When I worked for Disney/ABC they had a "Diversity 2000" day that all employees were required to attend.

We were told that it was to be a place to hear about diversity and have our concerns aired. No notes were going to be taken and anything said in the session would remain there

It turned out that we had two 'minority presenters' in the session who spent a couple of hours laying out the Disney indoctrination of PC, which included a bunch of psychobabble feel-good nonsense.

Then they got into 'content' and started telling us that diversity extended to what we put on the air...

A hand shot up....

"So you mean we have to work diversity into what we put on the air?"

"Yes"

My hand went up...

"Okay, let's say we were developing 'Seinfeld'. We should work in blacks and Asians?"

"Yes, exactly!"

"Look, I'm married, Irish Catholic, raised in the suburbs. Seinfeld is about single New York Jews. It's damn funny. Why would we 'work in' blacks or Asians? It wouldn't be funny. It's not about them."

"It's about inclusion"

Needless to say, that exchange was repeated and was the talk of the office, and all the managers knew what was said and who said what. There was no 'closed door'.

I had a new job within a month, outside of Disney.

[DoughtyOne]

A Greece man?  Ah, wouldn't that be, "a Greek man."

For the life of me, I do not understand what business it is of Eastman Kodak to encourage homosexuals to come out of the closet.  This is insane behavior.  What's next, take a Whitie to lunch day?  What does this have to do with workforce performance?

If there had been a problem with people being mistreated, I could see a memo going out saying that abuse of homosexuals would not be tolerated.  But a memo like this out of the blue strikes me as unnecessary and essentially trolling for problems.

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 would agree. Out of the blue, why should employees be encouraged to support another, from the corporate or management level?  Imagine a memo supporting another splinter group.  How about, "Please be sure to support those who defend the second ammendment."  I'm sure that would fly.

I doubt a suit is possible.  Most employees have been demanded to sign a form acknowledging they could be terminated anytime management liked for no cause, always an endearing move by employers.

[txzman]

http://www.kodak.com/cgi-bin/global/en/service/contact/feedback.cgi?conf=/global/include/en/service/contact/contact.conf

[buffyt]

What's next???? Bring your young lover to work day. Sponsored by the NAMBLA Big Brothers of America Clubs.... just as sicko.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Go digital

Go Fuji

Screw Kodak

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Think Japanese film--it's much better.

Digital photography is more fun... not to mention cheaper.

And with 11 Megapixel imaging now commercially available, even large format film is going to have a tough time competing.

[1 spark]

Wouldn't it be a "Kodak moment" if Fuji hired Mr. Szabo?

[EdReform]

Bump & Ping

[Conservative Tiger]

I live just 15 miles from Greenwood, SC which is home to Fuji Photo Film's North American manufacturing facility. The campus makes 35mm film, disoposable cameras, all Fuji VHS tapes sold world wide and x-ray film. This campus alone employs over 1,200 hard working Americans. Buying Fuji Photo Film keeps Americans working!!!

[GeneD]

Greece, New York is northwest of Rochester, Kodak's HQ.

[yendu bwam]

Diversity and Tolerance for all, as long as you agree with us.

The pledge of the fasicistic left gaydeologists.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Man needs to sue. Get his 30 billion award. The only problem, he doesn't seem to be hurt enough. If he keeps saying that he can get another paycheck from another employer, he doesn't show hurt. He must say that his life is no longer worth living - unless he gets his 30 billion from Kodak, of course.

[jude24]

Some of Kodak's plants are also in Greece. I live there and worked for Kodak this past summer.

[Poohbah]

For the life of me, I do not understand what business it is of Eastman Kodak to encourage homosexuals to come out of the closet.

From a purely profit-and-loss perspective (the only legitimate one in business), they DO have a fiduciary business in encouraging homosexual men to come out of the closet--because the average health insurance cost for a homosexual man is several times that of his straight counterpart. Kodak is going to get billed higher premimums if these people stay on headcount long enough.

However, this only works if it's legal to terminate them once they come out. It isn't now. But it will be at some point in the future, because the HMOs will donate veritable dump truck loads of money to political candidates that will vote to do this.

You have to pity the gay and lesbian community--the love that dare not speak its name now has no idea when to shut the f**k up, and said failure to STFU will end up being used against them.

[Conservative_Rob]

Kodak is, as was pointed out in the article, within their rights to fire this guy.

If I were to implement a policy that all employees would have to sign a paper that they agree with and have to abide by the teachings of the Old Testament of the Bible would I be within my rights??

I know your answer - the real question is why the religion of "no religion" is allowed special compensation.

[Criminal Number 18F]

A "Greece man" is a citizen of Greece, NY. It makes sense to local readers (and others who know that fact), but when they put it online and people from distant places read it, it must look verrry weird indeed.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[mlmr]

My email to Kodak:

After hearing about your Gestapo-like tactics in firing Rolf Szabo, a long time employee for objecting to your diversity/homosexuality emails, you can rest assured that my family will not purchase any Kodak products including Ofoto.com.

I will also make sure everyone on my substatial mailing list receives this information, with encouragement to send it on. If you have such a limited scope to your diversity, that you cannot stand a dissenting opinion....well you diserve to lose business.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

This sort of rampant pro-active diversa-socialism drove me out of EMC. And keeps me out of the other big companies.

It's one thing to protect homos from harm but forcing everybody else to embrace faggotism is sick. Why can't they leave people alone?

[SeeRushToldU_So]

This campus alone employs over 1,200 hard working Americans. Buying Fuji Photo Film keeps Americans working!!!

It looks like a win win for me and Fuji!

And Go Dawgs! I had to throw that in seeing you are a "Tiger".

[VRWC_minion]

If the guy wants to make his point and get some bucks he should claim he is gay (even if married). That ought to throw a wrench in the diversity works.

[Conservative Tiger]

Hey, congrads for making a clean sweep of the state this year. But remember, you have to come to the Valley next in 2003!!

[RooRoobird14]

This kind of P.C. fascism doesn't surprise me. Most Fortune 500 Companies have their H.R. departments packed with radical homosexuals, feminists and "get whitey" bureaucrats--all under the guise of "diversity" (read: anything except white men, Christians, heterosexuals, or conservatives)

I'm sorry this man lost his job, but he did the right thing by refusing to sign a letter of apology. I hope he files a massive lawsuit against Kodak and wins.