Schrempf Waves a White Flag and Surrenders By Robert Warne - October 8, 2001A flag rule backlash prompts the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s (NCCI) President, CEO and board member Bill Schrempf to make a fast backdoor break in the form of a quiet resignation. When the whole country was coming together united in unprecedented patriotic harmony following the Sept. 11 attacks, it wasn’t a good time for Schrempf to strictly enforce a NCCI flag rule. The corporate statute upheld banned displaying any flags, even on the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. Publicity surrounding the issue left a bad taste in many Americans’ mouths.
According to an Oct. 8 Workers’ Comp Executive news flash, Schrempf sent out a memo telling employees that, “Divisive statements or actions, political or religious discussions and anything else that could be divisive or mean different things to different people are not appropriate in our work environment.”
It was reported that Schrempf even had flags confiscated from the desks or offices of those that had already put up the flag before the memo was sent out.
Immediately NCCI and Schrempf were in the national spotlight like never before. News coverage, editorials and talk show hosts trashing the anti-flag measure generated an enormous level of emails and phone calls to the company. Attention on the matter didn’t subside after Schrempf lifted the prohibition and offered free flags and red-white-and-blue lapel ribbons.
Following the lift on the ban, Thomas V. Arneson, the president of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents shared his opinion on the matter in a press release Sept. 18.
“While it is good that NCCI corrected this error in judgment, it should not have occurred in the first place. The negative publicity NCCI rightfully received regarding its original policy gave all of us in the insurance industry a black eye.
“Members of PIA are proud to fly the American flag, especially in times like these. We have been encouraging all of our members to show their support for our country by flying Old Glory. Everyone should fly our flag proudly,” said Arneson.
The resignation was made public in an Oct. 5 NCCI press release. NCCI will be searching for a replacement to fill the vacant position.
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