New job - famous (ish) husband - want to work anonymously - name change question

[WantToWorkAnonymously]

So my husband is well known locally (politics), I want to apply for a new job (in the state sector) but don’t want everyone asking about him/moaning about him to me/thinking about me in a certain way because of links to him.

I want to revert to my maiden name before I apply, can I do this? Can I just give them my maiden name but my bank account has my married name will that matter?
And my NI, forms of ID (passport, driving licence) are in my married name, assume this may cause a problem?

I don’t want to abandon my married name totally, just for work purposes to remain as anonymous as I can for as long as I can - won’t lie if someone asks me directly!

Just want to be just me to start with.

If this was the case would you not have to declare it to the employer or on application anyway? Public sector have to declare anyone they are related to in that service.

Second question how controversial or unpopular is he that you feel it could affect your work life?

But yes, you can apply and work in your maiden name and provide a trail when you show your ID. eg birth and marriage certificate and a deed to state also known as.

I would apply in my maiden name and explain that is the name you use professionally - for work. The problem with your real name being used at work is that people - co-workers, employer, customers, patients, students, etc can look you up on social media - as a teacher I used my middle name and initial at work - never my first name which is what friends and family know me as - I never use my middle name personally - it was never an issue - however it's different for you with your surname - I see no real reason why can't work under your maiden name. I'm sure any problems with payroll can easily be sorted out once and for it not to be a problem that comes up again once sorted. My daughters work in the health service - they use a different surname on social media.

It's fine. Many women are known by their maiden names at work but have changed their names privately.

Apply with your maiden name and if you get the job you'll have to give your legal name to HR for background checks. Your marriage certificate will be proof of your name change so you don't need anything else.

Do it. My husband is a local doctor and I wish I’d used my maiden name before starting my current job. That extra degree of anonymity would be nice.

I work in the public sector (arms reach body reporting to a Whitehall Dept) and need a DBS. I use my maiden name, as that is my preference, it is the name that is associated with my PhD, and my father in law is very well known in the field he and I both work (although his surname/my married name is very common and does not immediately mark me as a relative) in. Also, all my significant qualifications are in my maiden name.

When I need to provide ID, I provide the documents required (all in my married name) and my marriage certificate. This has always been fine. My HR and payroll depts have a note that I am MrsMarried, known professionally as DrMaiden.

It's not a problem, never has been.

I use one name at home and a different one professionally. Its fine.

This.

is there an also known as or preferred name section?

Loads of women do this in medicine. You can use your maiden name without needing to fill in any forms.

DBS has a bit for 'are you known by any other names' so just put your married name there.

It's fine for all ID to be in your maiden name.

It’s an anonymous forum, nobody is ‘friends’, how bizarre.

Oops meant to say Married Name.

Well ,literally no one knows who the Ed Sec is since we have had 723.764, 812 in the last six weeks, so you're safe there.

Too true!

Thanks all for even more replies.

The ‘friends’ comment is exactly what I’m thinking about.
you don’t want to be friends with anyone linked with the current government without even meeting them?
and my husband might be an opposition MP?

Rees-Mogg is the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy minister, so unless his wife is forces, NHS, police or Financial Services chances are her job WOULD fall under his remit - manufacturing, publishing, energy, science, automotive, building.....

Apply for the job in your maiden name.

When/if it gets as far as ID checks, take your birth certificate to prove your name. If they want photo ID or bills to prove address, take your ID/bills and your marriage certificate to prove that you as your maiden name is the same person as the married name on the ID/bills. Explain that you'd like to use your maiden name professionally.

It is entirely legal in the U.K. to use your maiden name and your married name whenever/wherever you want, with your marriage certificate proving that both names are one person.

I'm not sure I'd describe JRM as "famous ish".

Thanks for educating me.

You never 'lose' your maiden name. It is your name and birthright so to speak. Use either. When they're checking your right to work, just say your ID is in your married name. Easy!

It's still your name, you can interchange whenever you like. Your NI number will show the connection anyway for the background check

Apply in the name you want to work in.

It is helpful to start as you mean to go on though so you get allocated the right name in the systems <voice of bitter experience, hours on phone to IT>.

I'm a healthcare professional and work under my original name.
My ID is in my married name, its fine HR asked for a copy of my marriage certificate to link them.

Only change it if you're sure people won't recognize you anyway.

When DH was a senior councillor and Mayor, people would approach us (either of us) in the street, the supermarket, you name it! Not much fun explaining the local plan when shopping for potatoes. And yes, they thought I was an extension of DH.

I work with my husband who has an unusual surname.

In my onboarding, I just told HR that my married name was Pumpernickel-White so all my ID etc is in that, but I wanted to be known as Thompson so my email address, security pass etc is all in that.

I actually don’t think my HR record lists my married name.

I used my my maiden name for work due to unusual married surname and potential risks to my children due to my role. Caused no issues - did have to provide both my birth certificate and marriage certificate for DBS purposes.
In a public sector role I think you would have to declare husbands role but only to employer/HR.

My work (NHS) asks you what you’d prefer to be known as once ID checks are finished. I’d assumed that was standard.

I have one form of ID in my maiden name and one in my married name. I have to say it has been handy, but I still carry a copy of my marriage cert as it’s not failsafe.

Getting your drivers license name change is relatively easy and cheaper than a passport. Could you change it back? I kept my passport in my maiden name as I travel a lot for work so having my ‘work’ name on my passport makes my life easier for ticket booking and stuff.