[Hollylane]

Originally Posted by Hollylane

Before I had even logged in at work this morning, this conversation pissed me the fuck off...

Supervisor Tom (someone I have never met, and didn't bother to introduce themselves to me before expecting me to take him seriously): Hey, you need to remove that photo of Obama, we're not allowed to have political things at our desks here.

Me: (moment of stunned silence): When did a photo of the current President become a political statement, and not about showing my patriotism?

Supervisor Tom (shrugs): I was just told to tell you that you have to take it down.

Me: Who told you to deliver this directive?

Supervisor Tom: It doesn't matter, you just need to take it down.

Me: It matters to me, because I have never seen that in an employee handbook, it is not political material, and I would like to address this with the proper party.

Supervisor Tom: I'll have to get back to you.


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Here is the photo that someone found so offensive, that they felt the need to voice their concerns to leadership.



As you can see, there is no political party emblem, or campaign slogan. It is simply a picture of President Obama, and a smaller photo of his family. This conversation felt so surreal, I can hardly believe it took place. What fucking country is this? I would never complain about someone having a picture of a president at their desk, whether I voted for that president or not. I would think of it only as an act of pride in our president, and in our country.


My immediate supervisor's face, became absolutely crimson with fury when I told him about this conversation. I advised him that until they can show me in the employee handbook, that a photo of our president is a political statement that is not allowed to adorn my desk, I would be leaving it up.

I swear that guy thought I would just do as he asked, without complaint. Which tells you that he has no idea who he was talking to. He also looked pissed off when he told me to remove it, as if I had personally offended him, and I think he may be one of two that had a problem with it to begin with.

I can tell you, that I will take this as far as I need to, I will not back down. It is absolutely absurd, and it felt very much like harassment.

Today, my supervisor pulled me aside:

B: "That conversation with Todd?"
Me: "Yeah?"
B: "It never happened."
Me: "Sure, thank you B"