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Original poster

When did you first wear a lanyard?

98 replies

IndianaMoleWoman · 06/07/2019 19:55

Just chatting with DH. We now have a lanyard tub in our drawer of crap for our various work/volunteering position lanyards.

Thinking back to childhood (80s/90s) I don’t remember anyone wearing a lanyard. When did you first wear a lanyard? Is anyone lanyard-free in the year 2019? They seem a relatively recent thing but being made partially from plastic and so frequently binned I can’t see them being around when my pre-school children enter the workforce. What will replace lanyards as ID in the future?

Apologies for the incredibly boring topic on a warm Saturday evening.

OP posts:
seven201 · 06/07/2019 22:18

I think I first wore one at reading festival in about 1998.

I once worked in a fish and chip van at Southampton boat show and my lanyard got caught in the side of the deep fat fryer! I'm a teacher now and have to wear one every work day.

BullBullBull · 06/07/2019 22:20

Never wore one in my life

bruffin · 06/07/2019 22:21

Im 56, Ive never worn one

andadietcoke · 06/07/2019 22:26

I used to work in the EP in Brussels from 2002 and had one then. My DH is a PE teacher and he has all my conference lanyards for whistles so they've had a second life.

Slazengerbag · 06/07/2019 22:30

1998 in my firstborn job as an admin assistant for the benefits agency. I now wear one everyday as a teacher.

JuniperBeer · 06/07/2019 22:31

We can wear our pass on a lanyard or on an extendable keyring thing on our jeans pocket/belt loop

ExpletiveDelighted · 06/07/2019 22:33

Only ever worn them as a visitor, never for my own jobs.

ChanandlerBongsNeighbour · 06/07/2019 22:34

I wore my first lanyard for 12 years as a teacher (same one whole time, I still have it VERY tattered and threadbare in my keepsake box!) and I'm almost two years in with my my second one (new school).

PhysaliaPhysalis · 06/07/2019 22:39

Wore one in my last teaching post (ended 2012): was very irritating as it swung forwards when you leant over to help children.

Current post we don't have lanyards or ID cards, thank goodness. Only visitors do.

Fanjango · 06/07/2019 22:40

First time I ever needed one was when son was out of school for a long time. Visitors need to wear them when in the school. I wore them rather a lot for a while there.

TheBitterBoy · 06/07/2019 22:46

I've had a swipe card entry / photo ID badge for work since 2001, but it's only been in the last 3 years that it has been required to be on display on a lanyard. I used to just keep it in my pocket.

We also have a collection of visitor lanyards. The general visitor ones are ok, but the ones we give to the maintenance techs (different because they need access to different areas) absolutely stink. One of the ladies in the office takes the straps home to stick through the washing machine every few weeks because they get gross. Makes me wonder whether people think to clean theirs occasionally

ChicCroissant · 06/07/2019 22:48

In the mid-2000's we needed them for work - I was put in charge of the order and I found somewhere that would print the name of our department on the ribbon. What did surprise me was how many other departments got lanyard envy and contacted me to see where they were from!

My favourite lanyard is from the Big Bang Science fair, because the ribbon says 'adult'! They didn't do them this year Sad

MadamePompadour · 06/07/2019 22:49

I have a lanyard. My ID unlocks my office door, various teaching spaces, operates the photocopier and also the main front door of the building out of hours. If I just had my card in a pocket I would lose it!

Ive had my plastic holder for years without replacing it and wash the actual lanyard from time to time.

adaline · 06/07/2019 22:51

I've never worn one but do need to wear a name badge.

horseferryroad · 06/07/2019 22:51

I've been told I have a wear a lanyard for many years but I don't. They stay in my pocket!

delilabell · 06/07/2019 22:52

Wore one from 2003 when I worked for the council then 2012 teaching. It's linked to doors, photocopiers and has our money /allowance got food on it too.
All students have to wear them at school.
My dh doesn't wear one. He's a retail manager.

Falafel19 · 06/07/2019 22:56

I've never worn one or had one for work, neither has my husband, and actually most of my close friends don't have them for work either.

SpinsterOfArts · 06/07/2019 23:01

In my workplace in 2012-ish. The first year or so most people kept them in bags or drawers and didn't bother with them, but eventually management started stressing that it was important to wear them so we did.

I didn't mind wearing the first one I had but the plastic clip fastening on newer ones that makes them 'strangle-proof' really irritates the back of my neck and gives me acne and a rash there. Sad

I've never seen lanyards for younger school students but the sixth form near me has no uniform and its students wear them.

Snog · 07/07/2019 07:54

Dd has worn them in all her schools/colleges since year 7.
DH & I both have had them at work since at least 2004. I dislike wearing them.

Violetroselily · 07/07/2019 08:19

2006 when I started sixth form

motherheroic · 07/07/2019 08:22

When I was like 8 I got my first phone a Siemens A60 and my mom got me a lanyard for it so I didn't lose it. It had marijuana leaves on it!?

Dyrne · 07/07/2019 08:30

Have billions of lanyards for various things. Have to wear one at work for security/access but it comes off as soon as I leave the building as otherwise I get the general public hassling me Grin

My old workplace we had lanyards but no one wore them. As a student there was a stage of them being the ‘standard freebie’ so I have loads from that. DP made me chuck a load out recently Sad

I’d recommend everyone takes their lanyards off while driving - there have been cases of airbags pushing lanyards into people causing a rupture of internal organs Shock

RedElephants · 07/07/2019 08:35

1989, I wore one a clip on photo ID when I worked for in a call Center for a big holiday firm, this If i remember correctly was also used to log in and out of work.
I wore a lanyard tho for the first time in 2006, working in a school, this was a badge with my name on,
I am again, working in another school, we wear a lanyard, with name position and photo.

Aragog · 07/07/2019 08:36

Last 11 years - the infant school I work at have them with our ID. Mind, mine is normally in my pocket or bag as when I'm working with the children in the computers the lanyard always gets caught in their hair. It's always on me though as it's also the fob to unlock the external doors.

I don't remember having them at the two secondary schools I taught at previously, but did have one, with I'd and a whistle when I worked at a prison. Had huge belt with ton of keys too. So that'd be around 2006 ish.

Dd is 17 and has a school lanyard with ID for sixth form.

Dh has a work fob - that can be in a lanyard but her has is attached to his belt on a retractable cord. No idea badge though.

nespressowoo · 07/07/2019 08:37

2003 working for the NHS. Have been community-based for the last few years and still wear one.

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