Usually better to get fired.

Not sure if she'll have an EEOC claim or not under Colorado statutes. I don't think this is federally protected.

Boulder was pretty moderate. Just this place, I guess.

an image concern.

In almost all health facilities, and in every health facility that has even tried to comply with federal information security legislation, only approved software may be installed on the facility's computers. This includes screensavers (in the past, some have been used to deliver malware).

Hospitals have been the targets of hacking for some time now - the information in their databanks is extremely useful.

All I can say is that if the hospital DOES NOT have a policy that installing a screensaver of one's own choice or any program not on the approved list (many have policies that only IT may install any program) is forbidden, it may get audited by the Fed because it has a terrible gap in its policies and procedures.

In the required Information Security & HIPAA policies, it will say that a staffer who refuses to obey security and privacy rules must be let go. This would have been the basis for the requirement to remove the screensaver.

I would find it incredible that this would be about the rainbow screen saver and not about the installation of non-approved software. Just incredible. I don't believe this story at all, because it clearly is not accurately explaining what occurred.

The company that I worked for had a written policy of not allowing any type of screensaver, program or application on its system without receiving approval from the IT section. If management explained that was the issue with the screensaver and she refused to remove it then it would be grounds for dismissal. What I would be curious to know is whether any of the other employees have personal screensavers or photos of a relative, pet or vacation trip on display that aren't on an approved list.

Upon further research I found this article in the Boulder Daily Camera. It appears that there weren't any issues with other photos that she had used as wallpaper backgrounds. It doesn't appear that it was an issue with computer security--she even had a photo of her wife as wallpaper at one time, but rather the display of the LGBT flag (ETA: and that someone was offended by it).

it does appear that the co-worker finally found an issue to complain about. The co-worker couldn't complain about the wallpaper showing a picture of her wife since it would be discriminatory to remove that picture, but allow other employees to have personal pictures as wallpaper.

Whether she has grounds to claim that she was in a hostile work environment is best left to attorneys the civil justice system. Her case would be stronger if she did try to settle it in mediation with the hospital. I do expect that the hospital will implement stronger policies not allowing any type of wallpaper photos or screensavers to be on their computer system because of the exposure to liability and media publicity.

Personal pics are one thing, but images and screensaver programs downloaded off the internet have harbored malware in the past.

It would be interesting to know whether any other employees at the hospital were using non-approved screensavers. I doubt that the complaint against the dietitian was because the screensaver was not on the sanctioned list though.

From the various stories that I've read there was no mention of computer security as an issue I believe the complaint was a matter of the co-worker being offended by the symbolism of the rainbow flag and I wouldn't be surprised if the two employees had some animosity with each other.

It would also be interesting to know if the person that removed the rainbow flag screensaver was from the IT department or if it was removed by the co-worker that reported the incident. If there was a security concern then it should be removed by the IT department to check the computer (and network) for malware.

I think the generally confused reporting is not helping us any - I'm guessing the screen saver was not an issue, but only the particular images, and that maybe it was the standard Windows screen saver with personalized images.