To have requested this at work? (Trigger:Domestic V)

[Hidemeaway]

I’ve recently started a new job and I’m really
enjoying it and I’m good at it, everyone seems happy.

Last year I left an emotional and domestically abhsive relationship that left my soul destroyed, luckily there was no children involved and I feel in a safe space but I have had to delete majority of my social media.

The only issue is that my work have requested I create a staff profile that will be visible to the public and searchable on google by name and picture.

I feel uncomfortable and that I think with one google search my ex could find not only where I work but the office location too. I’ve spoken to my boss and he was nice but basically said that it’s a “job requirement” for clients to be able to find who they need to speak to and I’ve been told to submit my photo etc by next week.

I just feel at such a loss. I’ve come this far, moved cities and feel like I’m on edge now. Is this something I could raise with HR? What would you do?

Speak to HR. Hopefully they'll have done the WA workshop for employers and be able to help.

Well done on leaving your abuser @Hidemeaway.

https://www.womensaid.org.uk/what-we-do/training/bespoke-training/domestic-abuse-in-the-workplace/

Another well done for getting out. It’s not easy. Well done.

as another one who got out, this is a real issue and your not alone. Until recently you could track people down on companies house as well. It just stops survivors getting on, it’s yet another scar to bare. No real useful advice, speak to HR, speak to a union if you have one. It’s shit and unfair.

There is absolutely no need for it. They don't need a photo. They don't need a last name. They can sort it out so you are "Emma" with an email of emmac@wherever and have it sent to you.

That's disgraceful. I was going to hazard a guess and say the boss is male, but you did say "he". What a surprise... totally oblivious to the risks to women.

As PP have mentioned GDPR rules mean they have to have your consent to list you and your photo on their website. Tell them emphatically that they do not have your consent.

Are they going to really risk losing a good member of staff over this?

Definitely escalate this further up the chain. I'd even use the phrase "so if my ex finds me and kills me because of you posting my name and photo on our website, you'd be happy to accept your role in it and accept a conspiracy to murder charge, yes?"

GDPR info re use of images of employees

What a dick he is. I bet if you or a man was trans they'd change the email like a shot. But actual risk to life not an issue. Go to hr and explain, I wouldn't be surprised if he got a verbal warning. If no hr go above to his boss and so on. The ceo will get it, middle managers sometimes confuse policy for hard facts rather than guidance to be applied with reason to individuals.

Very similar post on here a few weeks ago. In that instance I think the poster went to HR and they were allowed to show their name only on the website with no photo.

Speak to HR. Tell them you consider it to be indirect sex discrimination (because women are far more likely than men to have escaped DV and live in fear thereafter).

I’ve had this with one of my previous team. Their safety was our priority. We didn’t allow any photo or none to used in this way. Go to HR.
Well done for escaping, that took courage.

I would refuse. Point blank.

They can't force you to do something that may put you at risk of harm.

Go over his head and to HR.

Unless you've got a very common name I'd be objecting to that too. Ex will possibly know the industry OP works in so a desperate man would take the chance for a day trip to stalk the office just in case it is her.

On the face of it you’re not being unreasonable.

But given the lengths you’ve gone to to become invisible, I’m wondering why you have then taken on a public facing role.

Have the police been involved at all? If you’re at risk of serious harm then wouldn’t it be worth taking out an injunction?

Unless you've got a very common name I'd be objecting to that too. Ex will possibly know the industry OP works in so a desperate man would take the chance for a day trip to stalk the office just in case it is her. as it’s a public facing role I doubt that the OP would be able to object to having her name published on their client facing website.

It’s not unreasonable to have a directory of names published where clients are able to access them. The picture is another matter obv.

I’ve always worked in the same industry and I love my job- it gives me stability and balance and makes me happy. I lost a lot in my abusive relationship should I have lost a job I loved doing too?

I simply wanted some obscurity and in this industry I’ve never had to have a public profile on a website before- it’s something that some companies do and others don’t.

Yes, the police were initially involved but aren’t anymore.

My employer tried to do this- stupid men in charge had no thought that many women have experienced stalking or domestic abuse and may need employer details kept out of the public arena, or may just not want personal info in the public domain. The outcome was the employer couldn't do it as it is against the law / GDPR legislation.

There's a link here you may find of interest:
https://fintondoyle.co.uk/employee-photos-websites-gdpr/
From memory, (am not a lawyer so don't know if law has changed) everyone who didn't consent had to write to HR and that stopped the pressure immediately.

Employer still wanted to put names and staff personal info on the website. In the end for those of us who objected (and it turned out to be a lot, nearly all women) they just used first names, with a silhouette instead of photos, and people gave personal info like 'doesn't like the colour green' for privacy.