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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to refuse to have my photo on the intranet at work?

197 replies

wowfudge · 11/03/2014 15:59

I've received an email today which says the company I work for is setting up an intranet page for HQ (where I work) which will have everyone's name, job role and contact details on it and we are to provide a suitable photo to go on there. The purpose is so that those people in the wider company who have dealings with us can put a face to a name. We've been given a deadline to comply with this.

I am really not comfortable with this as I don't really know why anyone I only deal with over the phone or by email gives a monkeys what I look like or what difference it makes. When employees from around the company visit here, they tend to seek out the people they deal with and introduce themselves. I also have concerns that someone could use my photo for some other purpose without my knowledge. Plus I am not confident about my looks at the moment and don't want my fat face on there for all to see.

What do you think MNetters? Does anyone in HR know what my rights are on this? I feel pressurised to do something I don't want to do and would like to know how to deal with it.

OP posts:
MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 11/03/2014 16:40

YANBU - I went mental when my extremely unflattering (let's face it, there is no such thing as a flattering!) photo I'd been forced to have done for my ID card which never leaves my desk drawer was shoved all over the intranet WITHOUT PERMISSION. We were the pilot dept. Once it went company wide, everyone went apeshit, and default pics were turned off. Strangely enough, hardly anyone has chosen to opt back in!!

Cleartheclutter · 11/03/2014 16:44

sherriff yes it was a disciplinary offence. The person who it was done to set her fb page as private so nobody could access photos of her but the photo on the intranet gave the idiot an opportunity to use it in a bad way which she had no choice over

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 11/03/2014 16:46

you are really overthinking this. no one cares what you look like except for you!

DrankSangriaInThePark · 11/03/2014 16:47

People will complain about anything.

It must be a pretty good job if having to put a pic up is the worst bit though.

5ofus · 11/03/2014 16:48

YABU.

Find a photo you are happy with and just go with it. Makes life a little easier if people know who you are. Is it really that big a deal?

Goblinchild · 11/03/2014 16:49

This is where the niqab comes in handy. How would you like your companies to handle someone who chose to veil?

PenguinsEatSpinach · 11/03/2014 16:52

I'm not sure I really understand your issue with it? Is it really the security of the photo, or just that you don't like the idea of people being able to look you up?

Everywhere I have worked it has been standard to have a photo. Makes it so much easier. You walk into a big department looking for Sarah Smith and instead of having to wander around asking you have a fair idea who you are looking for. Also, when you forget the name of the person you were chatting to about X you can check you've got it right when you guess!

BackOnlyBriefly · 11/03/2014 16:55

YABU. People have photo IDs for work, for season tickets, for passports and so on.

Anyone can just look at your face and then they will have seen it and they don't need your permission at all for that. Also anyone can take your picture in the street or park.

It's just a picture of your face, not your soul.

Katnisscupcake · 11/03/2014 16:56

OP, I'm with you.

In my experience I was treated VERY differently when I worked in an office to when I started working from home. I am tall, slim(ish), blonde and friendly and I was treated like a bimbo. I haven't changed in the way that I work and was and still am incredibly professional when I'm not MNing but wasn't treated as such face to face. It took a lot longer to prove myself.

None of my current internal customers have ever seen me in the flesh and I am treated much professionally and on a level with them. This wouldn't happen if I they could see my photo.

I have refused to put my picture on the internal system for that reason.

eurochick · 11/03/2014 16:58

I've had my photo on the intranet AND internet since I started working in London (2002) at several firms. I never gave it a second thought.

BackOnlyBriefly · 11/03/2014 17:02

I can see how the face to face thing might work Katnisscupcake, but not sure that really applies to a photograph. It's only supposed to be a picture of your face and you can look as severe as you like for it.

Do you also hide the fact that you are female from customers? Perhaps by using first initial, surname and no Mrs/Ms?

5Foot5 · 11/03/2014 17:03

I agree with everything PlateofCrumbs said. I used to work somewhere where this was standard practice and I found it damn useful - at least for the first year or so until I got to know everyone.

You said
Once it's on the intranet, someone in the company could easily copy it and use it somewhere else, e.g. on the company's internet site, etc. It's so easy to copy photos and images and use them wherever.

But why do you think they would want to and why does it bother you?

I guess if you really, really don't want this you have the right to refuse but you do sound a bit OTT about it.

jinglebellsarecoming · 11/03/2014 17:05

Hi Wow, no not extreme just fits with our philosophy. We are a charity that is embracing the fact the most company's won't exist other than in a virtual reality. Therefore we only want to employ people who are happy to have a representation of themselves digitally which means a photo. Also we are very public facing and deal with complaints etc etc, it makes it easier and more personal if they can put a face to a name.

maillotjaune · 11/03/2014 17:07

I generally look terrible in photos but then I'm no oil painting in the flesh either - my colleagues already know this. Most of them aren't Brad or Ang either Grin

If we were asked to use photos I'd do it - as it happens we use gmail and some people upload pics, some don't. I am more Hmm at the colleagues who have photos of their children rather than themselves, what with me not really needing to know what their 3 yo look like...

Damnautocorrect · 11/03/2014 17:10

I had this at previous works, I wouldn't mind intranet but I drew the line at Internet/ local paper photos as I had a stalker who used to follow me from work to work!!

Nomama · 11/03/2014 17:18

As a teacher I objected when my employer wanted to do this.

As a teacher I am told that I should be very, very careful about what info there is 'out there' about me. Urban myth has it that we cannot have Fbook and twitter accounts that identify us. Reality is that we can have them but god help us if anyone notices and complains about anything we post.

Unions tell us to be very careful about pictures, locations etc, as we could make ourselves targets for disgruntled people. So my employer said they would take it under consideration - and then posted our pictures anyway.

So I still object. Because they did not go through due process. But I have reached an age when I am aware I look like a bag of shite, so I don't really care.

PeaceEagle · 11/03/2014 17:19

It's only your colleagues who will see it, same as when they walk into your office and see you at your desk. But people should have the right to refuse, I guess.

angeltulips · 11/03/2014 17:23

If one of my team told me they didn't want their photo on the Intranet for "security reasons" I would think they were a 100%, straight up weirdo. But ofc it's your prerogative to at least ask to opt out, op.

MajorGrinch · 11/03/2014 17:23

People seem to get really precious about their photos nowadays.

The only people that see it will be people that work with you!

If someone new joins, it helps them get used to who's who quicker, plus it saves colleagues having to say "Wowfudge? Yes, she's on the desk over there, the lady with the fat face......" Wink

LottieJenkins · 11/03/2014 17:26

What is the intranet? Confused

PenguinsEatSpinach · 11/03/2014 17:29

lottie - Internal company website. Only viewable by those within the company. Normally has phone directory, policies, internal news letters, etc.

slug · 11/03/2014 17:35

YANBU I refused to have photo on our website. My picture is now the logo of the project I run instead. Anyone who has been stalked knows this is the easiest way to be tracked down. A swift google of your name and your picture, along with contact details is available for anyone to find.

My company recently installed a new phone system with cameras to 'aid communication' within a few days the cameras had bees taped over/pointed at the ceiling/ switched off by about three quarters of the staff Grin. Nobody really wanted to see faces after all.

Blistory · 11/03/2014 17:38

We removed all staff photos a couple of years ago. Even on the intranet it's personal data and is at risk.

I don't expect employees to have to explain to me that they are vulnerable in their personal lives and uncomfortable with being identifiable. If they need to identify themselves, they do so to the appropriate people.

I wouldn't have any issues with you simply saying that you don't wish your photo uploaded as we've seen too many examples of security breaches in my profession to think I can guarantee absolute security of data.

PiperRose · 11/03/2014 17:43

But what is the risk?

Drquin · 11/03/2014 18:00

Hmm, I guess it's one of the those issues that if you've got reason, then it's logical to ask not for a photo to be used.
Although, to be blunt if you've genuine security reasons, I'd suggest a regular Google of your name / address and see what pops up, and as a PP did ask for your details to be removed. I suspect there's far more out there than you realise, whether it's security related or just unflattering photos.

Our intranet / internal systems ask for a photo - I think it's quite useful in forging a bond with folk you only ever email or phone, if nothing else it helps work out that flirtatious Ronnie is actually Veronica!