Rick is correct. I went the touchy feely way with my first business and ended up having to fire everyone. It creates more problems than it solves.
Second round of employees. Parameters firmly set...but with a smile. Leave your personal life at HOME. I don't want to hear it.... I'm not your Dad. He probably doesn't want to hear it either...
Just like your spouse doesn't want you bringing your work home at night .... your boss expects the same in reverse. Your boss deserves the same.
You can always start your own business and be personally involved with your employees. See how that works out.
BINGO!
I treat my employees great, and in return I expect certain things including a level of professionalism. This term BTW, pretty much sums up everything we are saying.
Showing up for work with your heart on your sleeve is not professional. Likewise, to even think that your sexuality ought to be a topic of consideration is unprofessional.
Therefore, the entire notion of being "openly gay" or openly anything is unprofessional conduct. The only thing an employee should be thinking about is how to openly be the best employee they can be.
And isn't this what we should all be teaching our children? Shouldn't we be teaching them that in life it isn't about them all the time and that nobody ever gets ahead with this sort of mentality? After all, the ones who will get ahead will be the ones who are team players; the ones who can keep their personal issues to themselves, act according to professional standards of conduct, and be role model employees.
How about instead of always hyper-focusing on an individuals right to flaunt his sexual nature, we send this message to the next generation loud and clear.
The military isn't there to cater to and coddle the individual and his need to be liked and accepted; the military is about being in service to ones country to the point of laying down one's life.
John F. Kennedy said, "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
This is the message we want to send to the next generation - not that everything in life is about them. The fact that so many in our society have lost this focus only demonstrates why they call the baby boomers the "me generation." We are all much worse off for following this lead.