Julian Omidi Speaks on Zero Tolerance Policies That Harm Heroes Who Do Good Things
(PRWEB) December 11, 2013 -- Julian Omidi and Dr. Michael Omidi, cofounders of Civic Duty, are troubled by the seemingly lack of common sense displayed by organizations today, when they insist on enforcing “zero tolerance” policies despite their inappropriate consequences. Media outlets such as Fox News and USA Today reported on stories about two heroes who, instead of being commended for their helpful actions, were punished by authorities in overseeing organizations.
“Zero tolerance policies seem like a good idea, as they communicate an organization’s strong stance against something very bad. But in reality, very few things in life are that black and white and there should be room for common sense exceptions to rules,” says Julian Omidi, cofounder of Civic Duty. “The actions of these two young people were good, based solely on a desire to help another. In our book, these two are heroes who should be praised for doing the right thing.”
On October 25th, 2013, USA Today reported that after he helped a female shopper fend off an attacker in the store parking lot, the 30-year-old employee of Walmart was fired for breaching the national chain’s anti-violence policy. The incident, which happened at a Walmart store in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, touched off a firestorm of criticism on social media outlets as people expressed their outrage at the unjust treatment of a man many lauded as a hero. Thankfully, common sense prevailed when in response to the legions of complaints Walmart offered the man his job back. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/25/walmart-worker-fired-helped-assault-victim/3187049/)
Similarly on October 17th, 2013 Fox News reported that a 17-year-old Massachusetts girl was recently stripped of her position as captain of the volleyball team and suspended for five games by her school when she responded to a friend’s request for a ride home from a party. Minutes after she arrived at the party to pick up her intoxicated friend, the party was broken up by the police. Police on the scene noted that the girl was sober and not in possession of alcohol, nonetheless the school district punished her for “engaging in conduct that is unlawful or fails to promote the health and safety of the youth in our community.” (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/17/erin-cox-hero-not-villain-dont-punish-her-for-doing-right-thing/)
Civic Duty (http://www.civicduty.org) is dedicated to mankind’s search for meaning and promotes the values of its founders, philanthropists Julian Omidi and his brother Dr. Michael Omidi. The charity’s mission is to inspire creative outreach, community service, and volunteerism through the stories of everyday people who are making an extraordinary difference in the world. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow men.” To get involved and help make a difference, send us a message using the website’s Contact Us function. More information about Civic Duty can be found on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and Twitter.
Media Relations, Civic Duty, http://www.civicduty.org/, +1 (855) 330-5600, [email protected]
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