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AIBU?

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Original poster

New team member problem with SM & appearing on the internet

92 replies

SanJayH · 19/04/2023 21:25

I have a new member of my team who’s just started at the company. She flew through the interview and I think she’s going to be great at her job. We were completing the induction process by having pictures taken for her work badge and her profile on the website, but she suddenly announced that she couldn’t appear on any kind of social media or our website due to ‘personal reasons’.

I totally respect she is entitled to her privacy but we work in an industry which it’s kind of expected to appear on various social media platforms and on checking with HR I was informed it’s company policy to appear with a picture and profile on our website.

I’m a bit stuck as to how best proceed so I wondered if anyone else had experience of this?

OP posts:
unvillage · 19/04/2023 21:27

What if she's escaped an abusive situation? It's a stupid policy anyway and needs to be reconsidered, now's a good time to do so.

Hankunamatata · 19/04/2023 21:27

What do the contracts say that she signed?

User1990C · 19/04/2023 21:28

Is it a policy which requires consent, or one attached to her contract?

Does it breach GDPR? Unlikely, but that had to be considered.

She may be hiding from an abusive individual. Have HR deal with it directly.

Miscellaneousme · 19/04/2023 21:28

Perhaps she’s escaped abuse or harassment and doesn’t want to be traced.

Dressshelp · 19/04/2023 21:28

Can you sensitively ask why? I had a staff member previously who didn’t want to be on our socials because of not wanting to be found by a family member. We used a logo and initials (S Smith instead of Sarah smith type thing)

AlisonDonut · 19/04/2023 21:28

I had an ex follow me across so many platforms I also couldn't appear on SM. I still don't have my photo on anything and had to delete my Linked In as he found me [without photo] on there.

I'd respect her request and just put a stock blank photo up instead.

Randomness12 · 19/04/2023 21:30

You cannot possibly enforce that policy in law, you need a revision quick smart. GDPR applies to a persons image, this seems to often be forgotten.

Tarantullah · 19/04/2023 21:31

I was informed it’s company policy to appear with a picture and profile on our website.

Was this communicated at any point of the recruitment process? If she is a brilliant candidate and you think she'll be an excellent addition to the team then is it worth losing her over?

There are various reasons she might not want to, she could have escaped abuse, be in witness protection, her partner have high level clearance...plenty of valid reasons. Even if she just doesn't want to in honesty I'm sure there is a resolution that takes into account her wishes and provides what the company needs.

Mortimermay · 19/04/2023 21:33

I agree that I'm not sure you can enforce that policy due to GDPR. As pp have said there could be several reasons why it would completely inappropriate, and potentially dangerous, for someone to have their image, name and associated workplace displayed on SM. I don't think you should force this issue - she has explained that it's for personal reasons and that should be enough. I say this coming from a place of working with women who have escaped from abusive relationships. She really shouldn't have to divulge any extra information if she doesn't want to. So unless this was specifically written into her contract as a requirement of her role then I don't think it can be enforced and her privacy should be respected.

HighInfidelity · 19/04/2023 21:33

I have an ex who stalks me if there’s anything visible about me online so I choose to have nothing there. I know someone who used to work in prisons and then moved into academia. The university insisted on having her name, photo and contact details visible against her wishes and she got death threats from a prisoner she used to work with. They allowed her to take her details down after that! Having her place of work easily identifiable on social media could potentially be dangerous for her if it’s a similar type of situation so I would try and find a way around it for her.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 19/04/2023 21:34

We had someone who was escaping a domestic violence situation of course we didn't use her photo. She may be in witness protection have a stalker you don't know. You should just accept her personal reasons.

Chattycathydoll · 19/04/2023 21:36

My workplace has a similar policy, they use a stock icon for my role as I am nc with severely abusive family and have had stalking issues with one of them.

RafaistheKingofClay · 19/04/2023 21:37

Company policy can be changed. And is a complete brush off by HR tbh.

Is it really worth losing a potentially good employee over something you may not have a leg to stand on if she decided to take it further and challenge?

Singleandproud · 19/04/2023 21:38

We had a staff member used a fake 'work' name and had her real name protected due to a previous stalker

Brieandme · 19/04/2023 21:44

The company policy needs revising. Are you aware that some religious beliefs aren't compatible with having photos published? Having a company policy like yours is a potential equality issue (assuming you're in the UK)

Socialdistancechampion · 19/04/2023 21:47

I would be leaving your company sharpish if I were her. I hate this expectation of being publicly available on all platforms all of the time. She may have a reason like PP describe or she may just like her privacy, which she is entitled to.

Original poster
SanJayH · 19/04/2023 21:47

I agree it’s not legally enforceable and think HR have just brushed it off. I’m just concerned now as it make cause friction within the team as there are some big and opinionated personalities, I’m concerned some colleagues will find this odd and it may cause unwanted questions and judgement for her.

I’ll go back to HR in the morning and inform them her picture won’t be going on the website.

OP posts:
Anothnamechang · 19/04/2023 21:47

As someone who never shares where I work or have anything location wise on sm due to an abusive ex I understand!

My ex husband found out where I worked once& he continuously called my work with ‘complaints’. In the end they had to send him a cease and desist!

Irissa · 19/04/2023 21:48

Your HR are wrong. (We have had similar in our workplace.)

Not only can you not enforce this as a policy, but to have a photo on the website request a consent form, data protection statement and so on.

She has every right to refuse.

Irissa · 19/04/2023 21:50

Irissa · 19/04/2023 21:48

Your HR are wrong. (We have had similar in our workplace.)

Not only can you not enforce this as a policy, but to have a photo on the website request a consent form, data protection statement and so on.

She has every right to refuse.

Requires, not “request”

C152 · 19/04/2023 21:50

Agree with others - your Company's policy needs immediate revising. There are lots of legitimate reasons people may not wish to publicise their photo - fleeing domestic violence/stalkers springs to mind.

Paq · 19/04/2023 21:52

Your "big personalities" need to be more sensitive. I think that people are going to be much more careful about an online presence and SM use in the future. My teenaged nephews are both really aware of how SM exploits their data and are withdrawing from it a lot.

If your business model requires people to be on SM as themselves I'd really question it.

thecatsthecats · 19/04/2023 21:54

SanJayH · 19/04/2023 21:47

I agree it’s not legally enforceable and think HR have just brushed it off. I’m just concerned now as it make cause friction within the team as there are some big and opinionated personalities, I’m concerned some colleagues will find this odd and it may cause unwanted questions and judgement for her.

I’ll go back to HR in the morning and inform them her picture won’t be going on the website.

I dealt with issues like this very firmly within my team. Some people forget that their "big personality" isn't appropriate at work.

If they were raised in public, I would say that it was not a matter up for discussion. If raised in private, then the same, but in much stricter words and tone.

If raised again, then a very serious reminder that any further intrusive questions would become a disciplinary matter.

tenbob · 19/04/2023 21:55

Unless she is the CEO, there isn’t much need to have her listed on the website and featuring heavily on LinkedIn etc

Ive spent 20 years in comms and marketing roles, where I have been in charge of the company website, LinkedIn, SM, putting people forward for press articles etc and have come across this a few times.

My stock response is ‘ok that’s absolutely fine. If anything changes on the future and you want to be added, please let me know.
There will be some work conferences where the delegate lists and their companies will appear on the event website, so if you are planning on attending any conferences or similar events, please flag this to me so we can make sure you’re not included.

Im not going to pry but I am going to make you aware we have a corporate security manager, an employee support scheme and a supportive management, should you need any of them in the future.

She will have valid reasons, and no business reason will override them

carriedout · 19/04/2023 21:56

Agree the 'big personalities' need to wind their necks in or you will have to have a chat.

Glad you are doing the right thing - no one should have to have their face on a work website except for roles that are expressly promotional or senior leaders i.e. where you would automatically expect it.