New team member problem with SM & appearing on the internet

[SanJayH]

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?

You can't put this in a normal job contract. Separate consent will be required.

She is perfectly entitled to refuse. Consent as a legal basis is dodgy for employers in this sort of scenario because of the imbalance of power between employee and employer.

Also. The way you describe it is judgemental "a problem with". She's not a problem and be careful that you don't make her seem so by the language you use.

In sone industries it would be odd to refuse. Say a law firm where everyone appears in the website for clients to look at/get contact details.

But then you can do a slightly different name -s smith or have a different work name /surname plus no photo.

That would be a reasonable compromise.

The minute you said 'big personalities' I thought ' is the tail wagging the dog?' Just tell them to mind their own business, and reconsider the whole SM thing. Whatever her reasons I don't see that she should have to have photos etc out there for all to see. I would have loathed this, for reasons of my own safety.

Solicitors appear on a register which you can look up.

Other staff don't have to appear though.

There's a solicitor roll though?

Looking someone up by name does not require a photograph.

If you’re in a creative industry or one that creates content for SM, do you have access to a picture library? A random photo (and maybe a pseudonym if this is a dangerous situation) should solve it.

There’s software now where people can be searched for using their image. If she’s in witness protection or has escaped an abusive relationship, your firm’s policy could cost her her life. Your firm has no right to expect her to disclose either of these facts to them. She isn’t the “problem” and you shouldn’t describe her as such. It’s the firm’s policy and the “big personalities” that are the problems here.

Exactly this. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence will surely think that the reason for this stance by her will be because of an abusive situation or something serious.

No don't do that. Let HR handle it.

With your big personality types, I have worked with people like this. They're a pain in the arse. If they asked me why this person wasn't appearing on the website etc, I would be pretty blunt.
'I haven't asked her, and I don't expect you to either. She declined her permission so her picture won't be going on the website. The reasons are none of our business.'

If further discussion comes up, shut it down just as firmly. Big personality or not, it's her business and no one elses.

The next question will almost inevitably be
'Well can I have my picture taken down then?'

To which you will have to agree, I would direct them to submit their request to HR, and let HR deal with the fact the policy is crap.

I’m not fleeing domestic abuse or victim to a stalker. I just wouldn’t want my picture on the website and as such that should be respected.

It sounds like the team need training on
how to be a sensitive human being and not big gallahs putting their foot in it about people's private lives. Or how to get their heads out of their arses and read a book or something occasionally.

Unless the big personalities are Donald Duck and Goofy, your new employee is Mickey Mouse, and you all work at Disneyland, I agree with you and PPs that they are going to have to suck it up and keep quiet, and it's a good lesson in respect and humility for them to do so.

On a couple of instances. One was a victim of DV and the circumstances were horrendous. Any decent company would understand.

The other was transitioning but wasn't in the business long enough for it to be an issue.

@Socialdistancechampion Thank you!

She could be in witness protection or have escaped from an abusive partner or stalker, sounds like the company need to change the rules to protect its staff.