Florida hotel fires man for American flag pin.

[powderman]

    National Interest - US Florida Hotel Fires Employee for Refusing to Remove American Flag Pin
Published October 16, 2011
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  FILE: Lapel flag pin

A front desk supervisor at a Florida hotel was fired recently when he refused management’s request to remove the American flag pin he was wearing, news4jax.com reports.
Sean May, 26, an employee at Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Fla., has been wearing an American flag pin to work every day for the last two years. Last week, he was told to remove the pin 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 told the station.
   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.
Just before firing May the day after he was sent home for wearing an American flag pin, the Casa Monica Hotel answered some questions from news4jax.com in an email Friday.
"The Casa Monica Hotel located in St. Augustine, Florida, is an American-based, homegrown historic hotel," the email reads. "The property reflects its pride in America and great patriotism by flying the Stars and Stripes high over the hotel. The American flag greets every guest and employee with its symbolism of our belief in this great country."
"However, our employee handbook clearly states, 'No other buttons, badges, pins or insignias of any kind are permitted to be worn.' No matter an individual's national preference, political views or religious affiliation, it is a standard regulation which ensures equality for all Grand Performers (employees)."
Click for more on this story from news4jax.com

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/16/florida-hotel-fires-employee-for-refusing-to-remove-american-flag-pin/#ixzz1azo1XrM8

[SwampThing762]

Gee, this happened in my neck of the woods.    There have been some people calling for a boycott of this hotel and its parent company, the Kessler Collection of resorts and Hotels.  Their link is below.    Let's spread the word and boycott these places, if we could ever really afford to go there in the first place.

http://www.kesslercollection.com/hotels_resorts/hotels.asp

ST762

[BBF]

It would be interesting to read their stand if a Muslim women that insists on wearing her head gear, for that matter what about those people with metal objects hanging on various facial parts?

[subdjoe]

If it is evenly enforced, I have no problem with it.  The policy is "No other buttons, badges, pins or insignias of any kind are permitted to be worn", then that is the policy.  And should be enforced down to the level of class or fraternal rings. But if anyone is allowed to show any "buttons, badges, pins or insignias of any kind" then he has a case for claiming discrimination. 

[powderman]

The company of course has the right to set the rules, but it's a darn shame they think they have to be so PC to as to ban a pin that stands for freedom and shows pride in being an American because some low life might be offended. I can't think of ANY business that should be ashamed of allowing an employee to show patriotism. POWDERMAN. 

[BBF]

The problem with those Pins is that it seldom stays there. I would be more concerned if he was forced to wear something beyond a unifrom,safty equipment etc.