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Latest Kindred Healthcare Press Release on the Mansfield Flag Debacle
May 28th, 2009 by Scott

Well, you can take it or leave it.  I’m leaving it personally.

KINDRED HEALTHCARE SUPPORTS THE FLAG AND THE SACRIFICES IT REPRESENTS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 27, 2009) – Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) is proud of its history of supporting our employees and their families who have served our country through military service. We are sincerely sorry that one incident between two employees gave the perception that we do not respect the flag or the sacrifice it represents.

It is neither the policy of Kindred Healthcare nor Kindred Hospital Mansfield to restrict the rights of our employees and their expressions of patriotism. This is not in keeping with the spirit and culture of Kindred Healthcare. We routinely celebrate the blessings bestowed upon us by honoring our veterans and active military through a variety of benefits and service programs. The truth is the Mansfield hospital situation has not been described accurately or in its entirety. In fact, both employees involved in the situation have family members who have served in the military.

This issue was simply a dispute between two employees who shared a small workspace, one of whom removed the flag because of its size. It’s important to note that hospital management was not involved in the decision to remove the flag and has since worked with both employees to resolve the situation. We support our employees’ first amendment rights and have invited the employee to rehang her flag.

“We are sorry that this incident occurred,” said Benjamin A. Breier, President of Kindred’s Hospital Division. “We organize many activities and programs throughout the year to honor our veterans. This year, in addition to our annual Independence Day celebrations, we will proudly distribute American flags that our employees can display in their workspaces. Our 55,000 hard-working employees serve our patients and residents daily with innumerable acts of kindness and compassion. We value and respect each of our employees and their commitment to high quality care. We look forward to continuing to serve our communities and our country.”

About Kindred Healthcare
Kindred Healthcare, Inc. is a healthcare services company, based in Louisville, Kentucky, with annual revenues of over $4 billion and approximately 54,800 employees in 40 states. At March 31, 2009, Kindred through its subsidiaries provided healthcare services in 661 locations, including 82 long-term acute care hospitals, 228 skilled nursing centers and a contract rehabilitation services business, Peoplefirst rehabilitation services, which served 351 non-affiliated facilities. Ranked first in Fortune magazine’s Most Admired Companies “Health Care: Medical Facilities” category, Kindred’s mission is to promote healing, provide hope, preserve dignity and produce value for each patient, resident, family member, customer, employee and shareholder we serve. For more information, go to www.kindredhealthcare.com.

CONTACT:
Susan E. Moss
Vice President, Communications
(502) 596-7296

-=SOURCE=-

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8 Responses  
  • PISDOFF writes:
    May 28th, 2009 at 17:53 pm

    SOUNDS LIKE DAMAGE CONTROL. THE FACT IS OUR AMERICAN FLAG WAS REMOVED AND THRWN ON THE GROUND. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE ROLES WERE REVERSED AND THE AFRICAN FLAG WAS THROWN ON THE GROUND SOMEONE WOULD BE FIRED. LETS NOT TURN THE OTHER CHEEK ON THIS ONE. WE ARE IN TEXAS AND TEXAS DONT PLAY!!! SHE NEEDS TO BE FIRED IMMEDIATLEY…

           
  • Kimberly Mask writes:
    May 28th, 2009 at 18:10 pm

    Susan Moss,

    I find it very offensive that you would tell this woman she cannot hang the flag of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. I find it offensive that anyone from another country is able to dictate what we hang or the size of it. I wonder if she would have said anything if it had been the flag of her country. I think not. You were wrong in your judgement of this situation. In case you had forgotten where we live it is in the USA and we are not ashamed of this. I am offended and ashamed of your hospital and will go out of my way never to step a foot in your facility.

           
  • Sarah Harrison writes:
    May 28th, 2009 at 18:38 pm

    I am seeing that our country is losing its show of patriotism and belief in God daily…..both on which the USA is established. How much longer can we exist when we cease to believe and live that belief? The attitude of this government is that we cannot offend anyone else by posting the Ten Commandments, saying the name of Jesus Christ as well as hanging flags, Well, here is my variation of an old saying: “You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people EVER!” We need to return to what is right!!!!

           
  • ShannonTexasGirl writes:
    May 29th, 2009 at 05:40 am

    This is what I dont get …. If it was hanging “on the wall” out of the way, How on earth was it to big???? It was laying flat against the wall, taking up no space from the cubicle, not blocking anyone’s view..Just like we all think originally she was offended by the flag itself not because it was to big , that wasnt the issue at all …. and as usual the minorities get their way, the Americans have no say so…. nor Rights anymore

           
  • Gary writes:
    May 29th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    Kindred Healthcare Supports the Flag and the Sacrifices it Represents

    “We are sincerely sorry that one incident between two employees gave the perception that we do not respect the flag or the sacrifice it represents.”

    Very poor response.

    Upper management is passing off the problem as a small misunderstanding between two employees. Most people will be insulted with that type of view from Kindred management. The employee who took down the flag should be fired. Along with some of the upper management who failed to act responsibly. Kinkred Healthcare CEO has demonstrated poor leadership. Good leadership and management would not have employed or maintained a person who has that much disrespect for this country and a fellow employee. I would bet, that this was not the first time that the offending employee has caused problems.

    The real problem we have in this country is lack of good leadership in both business and government.

           
  • Bruce Conkey writes:
    May 29th, 2009 at 14:58 pm

    Here is a copy of a letter from Kindred that I received today after sending them a harsh letter of my own. I suggest to Kindred that they get this information out to the public and I also suggested firing the employee who removed the flag. I have removed the name from the person at Kindred out of respect.

    Bruce in California

    First, we share your anger and hurt about the removal of the flag. It is very important to clarify that a misunderstanding has been communicated through the media. The supervisor that is described in the media is actually the co-worker of Ms. McLucas and not Ms. McLucas’s immediate supervisor. The incident was two nursing supervisors who got into a dispute.

    It was wrong and disrespectful and as soon as we learned about it, we took immediate action to correct the situation. The flag is now proudly displayed once again, and we apologize to all who were equally offended by this unpatriotic action, including the owner of the flag. We have reprimanded the employee and let them know we don’t tolerate behavior inconsistent with our Company’s values.

    Thank you again for your comments.

    Sincerely,

    Kindred Healthcare
    Corporate Headquarters
    680 South Fourth Avenue
    Louisville, KY 40202

           
  • B.Smith writes:
    May 31st, 2009 at 18:45 pm

    It’s a sad day in America when being an American and displaying our flag is offensive. I agree with many of the comments, had this been any other flag, it would have politically correct to not say a word and to go about business as usual. If the employee from Africa finds the flag of the country which is giving her opportunities she would most likely not have in her own country offensive, she should get on the next plane home. She should keep her comments to herself and be thankful a country such as American allowed her entry.

           
  • Stephen writes:
    June 2nd, 2009 at 15:22 pm

    Maybe they ought to make it required that there be a U.S. flag patch placed on the right shoulder of their uniforms, with the blue field towards the front. of course. some employees will probably be “offended” by this action, maybe these self same employees should also stop taking / using U.S. currency as this form of monetary compensation for work here in the U.S. is just as representative world wide as is our flag.

           


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