Work want me to include what I identify as in my email

[bobbingalongside]

I work for an NHS trust. Still on Mat leave, probably won't return.

I have an out of office email turned on and my manager has contacted me today to ask what I identify as so she can include it for me

I haven't got back to her yet. But I don't want to put anything.

Can I say that?

Should be obvious from my name unless I tell someone otherwise!!

If you're probably not going back I'd just refuse. Make a stand. You don't have to include any information about any of your protected characteristics so you certainly shouldn't about this.

Just say no thank you.

I'm in a CS department and have ignored the nonsense. They haven't asked again.

The choice of personal pronouns should include the option not to declare them. So you should I think say that.

One of the people at a supplier I deal with has changed name from a male one to a female one, but has not declared personal pronouns.

Yes, I think you should respond back with a “prefer not to say” response. It’s not different imho from having identify what religion or race you are on your emails. Gender identity is just as private.

Just tell them that being compelled to disclose how you currently identify would be triggering for you and make you feel unsafe.

Just say no

The world has gone mad. They are asking a woman on maternity leave with a female name what their gender is?
I would tell her that you, like many women, have suffered discrimination in the past based on your sex. Whist you respect those who are brave enough to disclose their deeply personal information on professional email it would be triggering to you. Tell her instead you have decided that your emails should end B Alongside, so that they can make a judgement on you by the content of your emails, not sex or gender identity.

There have been a few threads about this recently, and I’m sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon.

I’d probably ignore for as long as possible.

But if pushed, would say I don’t identify as any particular gender (use ‘a-gender’, if necessary), and so would feel very uncomfortable assigning something that doesn’t feel right, to myself - and I expect [the powers that be] are able to respect my decision.

Don’t ‘hope’ they can respect your decision - downright bloody expect them to.

No need to be rude or confrontational, just polite and to the point.

Just say you'd prefer not to, and if they push back against that again, tell them it breaches Principle 6 of the Yogyakarta Principles. (This states that the right to privacy "includes the choice to disclose or not to disclose information relating to one’s sexual orientation or gender identity")

Oh dear ... I would be tempted to reply with my actual name. I have been know to be less than flexible on this topic..

Our firm put out an edict that they wanted everyone to do this as part of their 'diversity and inclusivity ' drive. We all refused saying it was an invasion of privacy. Nothing further had been mentioned.

Just write hairdryer...

"I am not in a position to clarify further than "human" - I feel this is sufficient identification, and frankly given my use of opposable thumbs and NI number, that probably doesnt need clarifying on an email signature"

I would simply say that I don't 'identify' as anything.

I'm not sure they're legally allowed to hold sensitive, private data on you about things like your internal gender identity or beliefs about what kind of person you are.

"It's not a practice I follow" is a good way of responding if pushed.

Either do the sensible 'that's private' as others have said or

I identify as a Woman on Monday and Tuesday and a man on Wednesday, on Thursday I am non binary and Fri-Sun I am a teapot.

Unless it is a major pagan festival because then I am a goddess, but I like to acknowledge other faiths and customs so If I attend an Eid party I may ID as female even if it is not a Monday, Divali I am obviously a light and then on Yom Kipur...

I was asked. I also had my marital status added to a badge which I asked to be removed as it has no bearing on my ability to do my job. Nor do my pronouns. Luckily my boss feels the same way and backed me up when I was asked to rethink.

Ugh. I manage someone who identifies as non binary and has pronouns on their email signature. I don’t think it will be long before we are asked to follow suit in “support” so I’ll be using some of the responses here to decline!

You could helpfully say that you use the pronouns I and We.

(Which are what we all use, what other people use about us is neither here nor there.)

I would put human being

I'd probably ask 'Huh? What are you on about?'

Just say you don't use pronouns
I am guessing in your position there is no fundamental reason for needing them

I do have (Mrs) after my email signature as although most of my customers use my first name, I do have some customers in Asia & the Middle East where their corporate practice is to address you as Mr. Mrs. Ms etc.
I include it as I know they would find it very uncomfortable to use my first name as they feel it is rude in business - I am not that bothered, so am fine with it

Ask can you use Ffs instead of Mr, Mrs etc. Tell them it is your new title.

@cstaff I clicked to suggest HRH, but your suggestion is far superior 😄

I’m in the NHS and have noticed a few “woke” colleagues putting pronouns on emails. I’ve asked HR what the policy is for pronouns and funnily enough we don’t have one. If I get asked about it I’ll be telling them I identify as a middle-aged white male because those seem to be the people who get constantly promoted in our Trust.