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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wearing a name badge at work

96 replies

Darkestnight · 05/01/2019 15:27

I have to wear a name badge at work but would just prefer a id card instead. I really don't like having my name on public show and if anyone wanted my name I would just give it or show my id badge.
Aibu to not want my name on show. I know it's part of my uniform and wear it but I prefer it if I didn't have to wear it.

OP posts:
Tiscold · 05/01/2019 15:31

I always wonder why at supermarkets staff wear name badges. There's no need for that info to be shared with thousands of customers a day. I'm with you OP.

HildaZelda · 05/01/2019 15:33

I worked partime in a supermarket when I was at uni. Our name badges used to have both our first name AND surname on them. Stalker heaven!

Cerseilannisterinthesnow · 05/01/2019 15:34

I wear a name badge and ID badge but I’m
NHS staff and I think it’s good for patients to see me as a person and know who I am rather than just someone doing something to them

OddBoots · 05/01/2019 15:34

It's years since I worked in retail or a call centre but we used to be allowed to use a false name as long as we were consistent in using the same name at work.

I work in a different area now where I have to use my real name but I deal with fewer people and in a less public context so it isn't as much of a concern.

masterblaster · 05/01/2019 15:34

Just get one made up with a fake name. That can be your "work name"

AlpacaPicnic · 05/01/2019 15:36

I prefer not to have my surname on show as it's quite unusual and I don't want to be tracked down on sm by an irate customer. I don't mind my first name on show. (I also spell my name differently on sm for similar reasons)

My first job gave us the option of having pseudonym badges which we loved. Sadly my current job insists on full name on badges so I cover up most of my surname with a jolly work related sticker, leaving just the first initial on show.

Original poster
Darkestnight · 05/01/2019 15:36

I just work in a store so no need for them to know what my job isor what my name is. Can understand the NHS but my local hospital they just have there NHS id cards on lanyards.

OP posts:
Original poster
Darkestnight · 05/01/2019 15:38

Wish I could but work have printed my full name when I never am I called my full name as I have shortened it down. And no way would I have my surname printed on it as its wrong.

OP posts:
MakeAHouseAHome · 05/01/2019 15:38

As a customer I expect staff in retail to have these. It means I have been able to accurately and effectivelg complain about certain staff but equally give praise when deserved.

Platypusfattypus · 05/01/2019 15:40

I like to know the name of the person serving/assisting or caring for me. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to wear a name badge at all.

Polarbearflavour · 05/01/2019 15:41

I used to be airline cabin crew and the airline wanted us to have full names on our name badges.

They changed their minds after several young, pretty girls got stalked by passengers!

I used to find different name badges in the lost and found badges box to wear. One purser had Rainbow as the name on her badge,

greenelephantscarf · 05/01/2019 15:42

yabu
it's pretty normal to have to wear a name tag or id batch in work places anywhere.
we have to wear it on a colour coded (depending on access) lanyards all the time.

UnsungHero · 05/01/2019 15:42

Causes confusion with complaints.... i'm retail manager. We have 3 George's for example

It then gets overly personal when trying to explain which one it was

Cerseilannisterinthesnow · 05/01/2019 15:45

NHS now has #hello my name is campaign now so name badge compulsory

HirooOnoda · 05/01/2019 15:46

Sadly YABU - it’s job, the job you applied for and succeeded in getting. If you don’t like it simply find a new job for which wearing a name badge isn’t a requirement. Also, I very much doubt anyone is taking a great deal of note of your name or that it could be in any way disadvantageous to you

PoutySprout · 05/01/2019 15:47

And no way would I have my surname printed on it as its wrong.

In what way?

LittleKitty1985 · 05/01/2019 15:50

I was once served by a girl whose name badge said "Chevonne" & I had to suppress a giggle. I wondered whether it was her employer or parents who couldn't spell Siobhan!

Polarbearflavour · 05/01/2019 15:51

Especially in today’s world, customers stalking staff is common. I wouldn’t want some weirdo knowing my full name.

SauvignonBlanche · 05/01/2019 15:53

I think it’s a great idea though we go one better now and have our full name embroidered onto our uniforms.
#hellomynameis

Polarbearflavour · 05/01/2019 15:53

A few years back I worked somewhere where we all had to choose an alias surname! Grin

Original poster
Darkestnight · 05/01/2019 15:54

No but customers lean over my work counter to look at my name when it's easier telling them. At least with I'd badges on lanyards u can turn the card around like I use to do in my old work place before it went into administration sadly.

OP posts:
Thewifipasswordis · 05/01/2019 15:54

Members of staff would also like to know customer's names so they can identify abusive ones and ban certain wanky ones from the stores. Maybe @Platypusfattypus you could wear a name badge when shopping?

As long as they have the store name on their shirt or badge I would rather they didn't have a name badge. In this day in age and with GDPR etc staff should be given the choice.

agnurse · 05/01/2019 15:55

I'm a nursing instructor. In our hospitals it is now a requirement that staff introduce themselves using NOD: Name, Occupation, and Duty. Ex: "Hi, I'm Annie. I'm an RN and I will be your nurse today." We do have ID tags that give our first name only. Our students are given 2 student IDs - one with their full name that is their official student ID, and one with their first name only that they use for clinical.

QuitMoaning · 05/01/2019 15:55

Causes confusion with complaints.... i'm retail manager. We have 3 George's for example

It then gets overly personal when trying to explain which one it was

How is this different if they didn’t have name badges?

My OH has a shop and staff wear one, but just first name, and customers seem to like it.

Thewifipasswordis · 05/01/2019 15:56

@LittleKitty1985 Chevonne is pronounced totally different to Siobhan Confused the latter being pronounced 'she-vaughn' not 'she-von'.