A hotel fires a worker for wearing a US flag pin? Sean May has been wearing a flag pin for 2 years. But for some reason, the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida has decided to exercise a ban against all buttons and pins from their employee handbook, so the hotel fires the employee with the flag pin. Refusing to remove his American flag pin, Sean May was fired by the hotel. The 26 year old claims that a recent change in management is behind the move to prevent him from displaying his love for our country. The hotel says it is merely enforcing a rule which everybody knows. The hotel does fly an American flag on its flag pole daily.
So is Sean May correct for standing up for his right to express his love for America? Or is the hotel correct for exercising its rights as a private enterprise, establishing rules of conduct it deems necessary. Their employee handbook clearly states ″No button, badges pins or insignias of any kind are permitted to be worn.″ The hotel says this policy is to prevent any ″national preference, political views or religious affiliation″ by any employee. One can easily imagine what could result if everybody could add items to their uniforms and attire while on the job. Free speech cuts both ways. Does it have a role in the work place?
How do you feel about the story that a hotel fires a worker for wearing a US flag pin? Is the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida within their rights to do this, despite the fact that Sean May has been wearing his flag pin for 2 years now? Did the hotel go too far as it fires the employee with the flag pin? Is this a case of free speech, or private enterprise exercising its rights? Feel free to leave a comment below.
October 16th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
It’s unfortunate, but if the handbooks clearly states you are not to wear that type of thing, then, regardless of it being an American flag, it broke the rules. They did give him the option to remove it. It was his choice to refuse, thus causing his own job loss.
October 16th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Does the handbook say what the punishment is? Personally, I think firing is a little extreme.
If the handbook indicates that being fired is possible, then it’s ok, because the employee was warned. If not, then it’s a possible grey area.
I would have sent him home. And sent him home again the next day if he still had the pin on.
October 16th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
I’m all about flashing our colors as often as many places as we can. Dont approve of desecration, burning etc… pi$$ me off.
But, I’ve run a few restaurants in my day and the owners have the right to set a theme if its called for.
If I’m going to Hooters I expect to see Hooters and if my house is of a middle eastern, or Asian theme I reserve the right to have employees and gard that contributes to the theme and ambience I’d like to project.
If I’m running a fine house and you dont want to wear the jet black tux void of anything else you can go work somewhere else.
If I’m looking to project an American 1950s type nostalgic atmosphere I see no reason you couldnt wear any number of pins or accessories that were part the everyday wardrobe.
If I’m running a biker bar with a biker theme dont go crying to the ACLU because I wouldnt hire a gay man.
October 16th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
garb, not gard, sorry
October 16th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Put them on the list with Olive Garden and boycott their butts. Tow years later they decide to enforce the rule.
, yes, possible and probable grey area. Still a direct violation of freedom of speech. Come on people, if you won’t stand up for your rights who is, he people you elect. Be real, start fighting for your rights now, how do you think all the non-americans got their voices heard. It wasn’t by saying whatever. WAKE UP!!
October 16th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
I am getting so sick of losing our Freedoms. Our Veterns have died for this right. The American Flag pin hurts nothing. He is an American showing his pride for his country. Maybe he has a realtive serving in the military. I think the rule needs to get more specific. If the badge or pin has obscene language or pictures or racial slurs then yes it is not appropriate for the workplace. The Ameican Flag is none of the above. I think this hotel is not worthy of american money if this is how they feel about the American Flag.
October 16th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
I am a vetern and am proud of the American Flag. I will not let anyone tell me I can’t wear my flag pin Ever. I say if you can’t wear the flag pin because you might offend someone, then let them go to another country. God Bless America. Don’t forget everyone wear an American Flag pin and be Proud.
October 16th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Roxanne…
those men died for you to establish what you’ll do with your private property.
This aint N Korea where display is mandatory.
October 16th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Scott;
“Put them on the list with Olive Garden and boycott their butts.”
Not the same thing Scott.
In hosting the Kiwanis, an American icon, Olive Garden was clearly in the wrong for not allowing its guest to decorate its banquet to its taste as long it was in decent and safe parameters.
Some of you seem to confuse freedom of speech with your right to your property.
If the Marines were holding an affair by all means no one in their right mind would deny old glorys presence.
But, as sole proprietor and owner of any property you have the exclusive right to dictate appearances of staff and property. Just as those employees not comfortable with such standards have the right to refuse employment.
If I want my hotel staffs uniform to be “uniform” and free of personal gesture I reserve the right as owner of that property and its operation to enforce my standards.
I myself would let even the most Avante Garde` Maitre D` in the finest suit dawn a little token of his pride in America if he so wished.
Being my property, I have that right.
When mob rule can dictate appearances were nearing a slippery slope
October 17th, 2011 at 12:31 am
Scott your wrong. This is not a violation of his right to free speech. He gave up that right when he accepted the job. What if the pin said”abortion now”, “Ban the NRA” or any number of things? He’s free to wear the pin when he’s not working, but when he is he represents the hotel and they get to decide what can be worn on their uniforms.
October 17th, 2011 at 1:04 am
The issue is not whether the hotel has the legal right to do this. Of course they do. But was this smart? The new management has screwed up and brought a lot of negative feedback down on the hotel. If this is not reversed there is no way as a veteran myself I would EVER stay there. We don’t forget this type of insult.
October 17th, 2011 at 1:10 am
I think everyone at this hotel should now wear an American Flag pin in protest. I would be interested to know what would happen.
Would everyone get fired for that?
October 17th, 2011 at 1:44 am
Great comments, folks! Thank you!
I would have to agree that A) the hotel does have a right to exercise whatever dress code policy they deem rational. As pointed out, if you let people wear American flag pins, eventually somebody will wear something that is offensive to you.
But on the other hand, B) the hotel really screwed up here from a PR standpoint. I do not think they had to fire Sean May. Frankly, I would have sent him home for the day and order up a special name tag for him that has a US flag on it.
October 17th, 2011 at 3:40 am
The handbook says no pins, badges etc of any kind. So Sean May was wrong………………
for wearing the flag pin. Although it is stupid for firing someone for wearing a small pin BUT where does it end. Things always manage to get out of hand what is good for one is good for all. So Sean May should learn to abide by the rules or suffer the consequences.
October 17th, 2011 at 6:47 am
Well Jeffrey, all I have to say to your comment is if everyone working at the hotel decides not to follow the rules then there are a lot of people looking for work right now that would be happy to take their places.
October 17th, 2011 at 8:01 am
Being a VET and serving 10 years in the USMC. I do believe that I have earned the right to wear the flag as a pin anywhere I want to and, I think any American citizen should be able to wear the flag pin without any consequences due to the fact that this is the United States of American. You can’t wear it in Russia or Germany or Japan, But you should be able to wear it in your country. I also have a problem of why are you asking me when I call anywhere, if I want ENGLISH PRESS ONE. That is wrong also.
October 17th, 2011 at 8:39 am
Kevin
The hotel has every right they are not say he can not wear it when he is not working just not on Their Uniform If you had put on a pin on your Marine Uniform that was for right to life what would the consequences be, and if you refused to remove what then??
October 17th, 2011 at 8:47 am
Perhaps the “new management” is a foreign entity and prefers employees wear pins with “their” flag on their lapels. Regardless, this hotel is not seeking the business of Americans. When I travel back to St. Augustine, the Casa Monica will no longer get MY business.
October 17th, 2011 at 8:59 am
To Sara, this is United States of America, if you can’t promote United States of American what can you promote. They built the hotel on US soil, we fought for this soil. We should be able to promote this Country. They are in the US. I can understand not promoting for purpose of a selling or advertising. But that is not the case here. Its the US. And trust me, You can and will wear the US flag on your Military Uniform. BECAUSE you fought for this country. We are talking about the US flag here, nothing else. Don’t put anything more on it. Its the Flag. Period. That represents this country and all that is built in it and on this land.
October 17th, 2011 at 9:10 am
We fought to fly this flag in the US, Our troops are out there fighting for your freedom everyday and dying for it. We should be able to wear that flag proudly anywhere and anytime. Especially should be able to wear it on our on soil anytime and anywhere and every business should support it. Their right. Let me think about this. They would not have a right to build or anything else if it was not for us fighting for their right. So respect the flag and wearing it.
October 17th, 2011 at 9:46 am
TGom..
Stop taking it so personally.
It works both ways.
The hotel has not set out intentionally to pi$$ you off, offend you, whatever.
As much as our heros fought for the right to fly that flag on private property they also fought for the right of the owner to do as he see fit with his property as well. As long as no harm or violation of anyone elses rights comes to bear.
Being in the military I’m sure you can understand the need for order and uniformity.
How would you like it if the government you fought to support dictated what your employees could and could not wear ?
The hotel fly’s old glory right at the entrance to the hotel.
And the owners standards call for uniforms to be free of anything but what is ruled by management.
You fought for them to have that right as well as you fought for us to do what we want with “OUR” property.
I hope you understand.
At work I would not be pi$$ed.
If I were a guest of the hotel and was asked to remove my flag pin the sht would hit the fan
October 17th, 2011 at 9:50 am
The government is not allowed to dictate to any owner what its employees must wear.
Once they are allowed to do that we have truly lost the freedom so many of you are boasting about
October 17th, 2011 at 10:18 am
TO Micky:
Sorry Micky but it is personal, especially if you have served. And you are totally right about that statement about the Marines. LOL, They wouldn’t stand for it. But on the Other hand you have to understand that yes it is your property. But the blood that was shed for it to be your property was for the Flag. Fighting for your freedom and what you want to do, absolutely I agree, but again (freedom = flag) fight for rights = flag. It all stands for the American Flag.
October 17th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Its not the government. Its the American People that are standing up for this.
October 17th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Kevin, personal really cant apply, as much as I appreciate you.
Our original settlers starved to death until we realized a man owning and having say si over his own property is the foundation of our freedoms.
If the government cant dictate you must allow one flag then they can dictate any other flag, you may not agree with.
I respect our flag, own many for many occasions, would love to beat the sht outta these ass-holes than spit on and burn it.
But I will not be told when I must and must not use them.
Our market, a capitalistic one, defined by free trade and private property is the one thing that made this country besides the men that fought for that system that thrives on those rights.
A man must be able to dictate what his property is for, otherwise its not really his.
Even if it means he wants his employees uniforms free of flag pins.
Because had it not been for your sacrifices he would not have that right.
Why he does not want pins on uniforms is his business as it its his property and literally his business.
I agree, the flag should be displayed more often. I myself would probably require it as part of the uniform, and I have that right, as much as I have the right to omit it.
And I thank you for your sacrifice or I would not have the freedom to make that choice