After the Jefferson County Health Department received numerous negative comments about some photos the agency posted on Facebook showing employees celebrating the Cardinals opening day, Director Kelley Vollmar said the agency decided to disable comments on its Facebook page.
“We received such horrible verbal attacks directed at our staff for the way they looked and for who they were, and that was just the end point for me,” she said. “The decision was not made lightly.”
In an April 20 Facebook post announcing the change, Vollmar said the Health Department’s comment section had become a toxic space, filled with misinformation and bullying, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the area in March 2020 and the agency began tracking data and offering advice and directives about how to protect against getting the virus.
“We’re returning to the original purpose of our site, which is basically to get accurate information out to people in an accessible way,” she said.
The Health Department’s April 7 Facebook post about the Cardinals opening day included a caption that said, “Happy opening day!! Go Cards!!”
It also featured three photos of groups of staff members wearing Cardinals attire. In all, 17 of the Health Department’s 80 employees were featured in the photos, Vollmar said.
The post received 136 reactions, as well as 31 comments, and the majority of those comments were negative.
Several commentators mentioned diversity since all employees in the photos appear white.
“Not very diverse,” Carol Ann commented. “Interesting since you all like to tout about diversity.”
Vollmar said of the 80 Health Department employees, 93.7 percent are non-Hispanic white. According to the Census Bureau, Jefferson County’s population is 94.1 percent non-Hispanic white.
“It’s one moment in time of my staff, and it’s not my entire staff,” Vollmar said. “We have a diverse and phenomenally talented, passionate staff. I caution people to not take one picture and make a judgment of an entire agency based on that.”
The City of Barnhart Facebook page, a satire/parody page, commented, “I was thinking for the Health Department they don’t really look all that healthy.”
Vollmar said she couldn’t believe the weight-shaming comments.
“We firmly believe in creating environments which are safe and are healthy for not only our community, but also for ourselves, and I feel like our comment section has strayed from that,” she said.
“Clowns in Cardinals shirts,” Patrick Goff commented.
Others commented that the Health Department had “too many people on the payroll.”
Vollmar said employees have thick skin, but they do read and respond to the comments, which can have a negative effect on their health and well-being.
“It (the Facebook comment section) is not a mandatory part of our site, and I think this gives everybody the ability to really take time to step back and refocus. I think it will be good for everybody involved,” she said. “I don’t think it’s been a healthy place for people in our community and I don’t think it’s been a healthy forum.”
Vollmar said as of April 22, the Health Department had received about 10 responses about turning off comments, some positive and some negative.
She said the Health Department has not seen the same type of negative comments on other social media platforms, like Instagram.
The Health Department’s Instagram handle is @jeffcohealthdept, and no negative comments were posted there about the agency’s Cardinals opening day post.
People may still comment on the Health Department’s Instagram account. In addition, people may reach the Health Department by emailing
communications@jeffcohealth.org or calling 636-797-3737.
“I think this is a much more efficient way to be able to answer our community as well,” Vollmar said.