Jane Rutkoski

Jane Rutkoski said she had put a variety of photos, posters and crafts on the walls in the LabCorp of America office, and she said clients and her former supervisors loved the decor.But after a management shake-up, she was told to take them down.

"I was told it was not in coordination with the color scheme and how they want their service centers to look," Rutkoski said."They want all the service centers to look alike."

The decorations, she said, were several photos of American flags, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a poster of a teddy bear holding a flag with the words "Hip Hip Hooray for the U.S. of A."

Rutkoski, a phlebotomist, said she has submitted her resignation effective April 28.

"I told them I refuse to work for a company that does not want to honor the United States," Rutkoski said.

FORTY FORT - Jane Rutkoski never considered herself a rebel, but when her employer told her she had to take down the patriotic decorations in her office, she said she had to take a stand.

The daughter of a World War II veteran, Rutkoski takes pride in her American heritage, and she showed it through a variety of photos, posters and crafts that hang on the walls in the LabCorp of America office off Welles Street.

Her clients loved the decorations, many of which they donated, and so did her former supervisors, she said.But when a management shake-up occurred in February, Rutkoski was told the decorations did not fit the corporate profile of what LabCorp' offices should look like.

The decorations had to go by March 31, she was told, or she would face disciplinary action and possibly be fired.

Two weeks later, the decorations are still up and Rutkoski is still at work, but not for long.Unable to accept the ultimatum, she submitted her resignation effective April 28.

"I told them I refuse to work for a company that does not want to honor the United States," Rutkoski said Friday.
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Rutkoski, who is in her 40s, said she has been collecting American memorabilia since she was a child.Her father served in the European Theater during World War II, and every generation in her family has had some member in the military.

"I was brought up to respect our country and the price that was paid for it."

Every room in her Thomas Street home in Edwardsville is also decked out in an "America" motif ranging from bedspreads to carpets to wall coverings and lamps.

LabCorp provides clinical services for the medical profession.Rutkoski is a phlebotomist who draws blood for various types of testing.She has worked at the office, which is staffed only by her, for about two years.

Rutkoski said she could understand the company's objections if the decorations were gaudy or if they caused an obstruction, but that's not the case.

Among the items are several photos of American flags, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a poster of a teddy bear holding a flag with the saying "Hip Hip Hooray for the U.S. of A."

None of the items contain political messages and only a few have a religious reference with "God Bless America."Other than a few flower baskets with American flags sticking out, all of the decorations hang from walls.

Rutkoski said she's also perplexed that the company only recently objected to the decorations, which have been up for two years.

Jane Rutkoski

FORTY FORT - A woman who on Friday criticized her employer for ordering her to take down patriotic decorations in her office said she was asked to leave effective Monday - two weeks before she intended.

Jane Rutkoski of Edwardsville said she got a phone call from LabCorp of America at about 3 p.m. telling her that her planned resignation, which was supposed to be effective April 28, was accepted that afternoon.

"They said they will honor my resignation on the 28th, but they'd prefer if I left now," Rutkoski said as she stood outside her Dodge Neon, which was jammed with decorations she had taken from the office."I said that's fine with me.I started packing my things up while I was on the phone with them."

Rutkoski had worked as a phlebotomist for LabCorp's office on Welles Street for about two years.She said the decorations, which included flags and crafts depicting bits of Americana, had not been a problem until February, when she was told they did not fit the corporate idea of how LabCorp offices should look.

A story about her refusal to remove the items appeared Saturday in the Times Leader, and she's convinced the company's displeasure with the article prompted Monday's actions.

Brad Smith, executive vice president of corporate affairs for LabCorp, said Rutkoski was asked to leave effective Monday because she made it clear she no longer wanted to work for the company.He noted the company agreed to pay her until April 28.

"After someone has decided to resign, particularly under circumstances like this, when they decided they don't want to comply with what we believe to be a reasonable company policy, it was better we both move on," he said.
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Rutkoski said she suspected the company would not be happy she spoke with the media, but does not regret her decision.She was surprised by the reaction the story generated, noting many people came to the office Monday to voice support.She even got a job offer.

"I didn't expect to become the Betsy Ross of my generation."

As for now, Rutkoski said she'll return to the home she shares with her three cats and two dogs and start looking for another job.And she won't apologize for standing up for what she believes in.

"I want it on my resume that I got fired for refusing to take down the American flag," she said.

Make a comment on this story at www.timesleader.com.

Jane Rutkoski said she had put a variety of photos, posters and crafts on the walls in the LabCorp of America office, and she said clients and her former supervisors loved the decor.But after a management shake-up, she was told to take them down.

‘‘I was told it was not in coordination with the color scheme and how they want their service centers to look," Rutkoski said. ‘‘They want all the service centers to look alike."

The decorations, she said, were several photos of American flags, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a poster of a teddy bear holding a flag with the words ‘‘Hip Hip Hooray for the U.S. of A."

Rutkoski, a phlebotomist, said she has submitted her resignation effective April 28.

‘‘I told them I refuse to work for a company that does not want to honor the United States," Rutkoski said.

Jane Rutkoski said she had put a variety of photos, posters and crafts on the walls in the LabCorp of America office, and she said clients and her former supervisors loved the decor.But after a management shake-up, she was told to take them down.

"I was told it was not in coordination with the color scheme and how they want their service centers to look," Rutkoski said."They want all the service centers to look alike."

The decorations, she said, were several photos of American flags, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a poster of a teddy bear holding a flag with the words "Hip Hip Hooray for the U.S. of A."

Rutkoski, a phlebotomist, said she has submitted her resignation effective April 28.

"I told them I refuse to work for a company that does not want to honor the United States," Rutkoski said.