Family photos on desk at work - yay or nay?

[ParkerPen]

Context - My dh works for an investment management firm in London. I popped into his office yesterday (we were meeting to go out for dinner) and I noticed that he didn't have any photos of our family on his desk, whereas the desks on either side had several photos of children.

I have loads of photos of our girls and family on my desk at work (I work for the NHS, not in London, and not private sector like dh), so thought this was a bit strange. I like having photos of lovely holidays to look at during the day.

Dh said that when you put photos of your kids on your desk, it's basically saying, "Don't sack me, I have a family to support." He thinks it's a bit pathetic.

Who is right?

I hate family photos on desks. You're there to work.

I see my family before I leave and when I arrive home, I’m not going to forget what they look like while I’m at work.

When I worked in an office (management consultancies) it never occurred to me to put photos up. Some people did, some didn't. One manager had a picture of his car!

Personal taste.

I don't have any on mine. Work is work, private life is private. I can pass the day without thinking about my loved ones, let alone having them looming up at me as i type emails and the like!

I'm female, if that counts?

Nothing wrong with it, and it's rather spiteful and mean spirited to say there is.

To suggest you are saying 'don't sack me have a family' because you have family photos on your desk or wall is ridiculous.

If someone slagged someone off for putting pics up of their kids, I would suspect that person was jealous, and just generally a miserable sod who isn't a very happy person.

I have one photo of our son. It reminds me why I am there, doing that job, day after day - to support him and provide for his needs.

I don’t. I’ve got plenty on my phone.

Lots of people have photos of their family, some have certificates of things they have done 'outside' of work. Others have items they are interested in e.g. hobbies etc.

Most people I work with are male. I have a picture of my dog hope DH isn't offended

I work in the same sector as your DH, in a big building and would say most people don't, but that it's not viewed negatively to do so.

However there are a few people with loads of personal gumpf on their desk and truthfully they usually seem to be in the lower-status jobs.

I hate family photos on desks. You're there to work.

I fail to see how having a photo of your child on your desk hinders your work.

I have one photo of our son. It reminds me why I am there, doing that job, day after day - to support him and provide for his needs

Same here.

One of my colleagues has two framed photos of himself on his desk. None of his wife or kids, just him. Now that's odd!

My collegue has a bloody collage on the wall, takes up the whole notice board. She spends a large amount of time rearranging the pictures putting new ones up .

Public service job. Public money. Large NHS salary

I don't have family photos on my desk. I like to keep my work life & family life separate. DH doesn't either as far as I know, I've never been to his office.

I have photos on my desk.
It's the only way to get me through the crap every day, remembering that I'm doing it to pay the bills for them.

I have a photo desk calendar with photos of DD and DH family and friends. It cheers me up on shit days at work where everything is going wrong.

ive got a picture of zach mcgowan from blacksails on my desk

We have a clear desk policy - nothing on your desk other than phone, screen and work. Nothing personal.

Each to their own. Lots of tatty unframed photos blutacked to monitors. Definitely not. One simple framed photo of the family on an otherwise uncluttered desk fine.
My husband has two large pieces of framed ‘artwork’ by the children and a large portrait of the children and dog on his main office wall. He likes to present as a family man, he likes there to be no doubt he’s married, he likes to be surrounded by family.

I hot desk across different sites. I don’t even have anywhere to leave a mug.

My DD recently got to see my DH's desk and was actually impressed that he had photos of us up there - she asked me if he put the frame of pictures together himself (there is a large one of DD, one of me and DH together and a photo of one of his siblings who died in his early twenties).

**KneesupGaston

I hate family photos on desks. You're there to work.**

^What a delight you are (!)

I have a family photo on my desk.
Like a PP it reminds me why I work so damn hard.
Sometimes I like to just spend a mindful
Moment looking at it, itbhelps with perspective.
Sometimes, when I'm working late it's the one trigger that says "hey Fox. That's enough for today, go home"
I like it.

Managers in my team have pictures too.
It's a professional environment and it shows a side of humility.

I dont have anything personal on my desk at work. I like to switch fully to work mode and not think about how much id rather be with the kids. Across our office there is:
one desk adorned with multiple pics of her dd.
Two desks with only one pic on.
Two desks which have a4 printouts of family pics up on the wall (however both of these are private offices).
Every other desk (maybe 15) is clear of personal pics

Have them as your screensaver if you want them? Or put them on a mug. I like seeing that people are more than "You're there to work".

Ive got a signed photo of Jon Boden (folk singer)on my wall, half hidden behind monitors. It's a small rebellion against "clean desk" tyranny.

It has never really been a thing any office I have worked in. I work in buying so its a very female dominated industry.

I wouldnt think anything either way tbh if someone did or didnt.