To not be happy that my new work lanyard has “she/her” on it without me asking?

[TheNavyAnt]

I’ve just started a new job and noticed that my staff lanyard/pass automatically has my name and “she/her” printed underneath it. Nobody asked if I wanted pronouns added - it was just assumed and put there by default.

I don’t have anything against people sharing pronouns if they want to, but personally, I wouldn’t have chosen to have it printed on my pass. It feels a bit forced, like I’m being made to take part in something I didn’t ask for and I’m not sure why it needs to be there at all unless I choose it.

AIBU to feel slightly uncomfortable about this? Or should I just let it go as one of those “modern workplace” things?

Sharpie.

Sticker over it?

Hell would freeze over before I wore this.

I feel the same, we had to add our pronouns to our signature on our work email. As you said it feels a bit forced and I don’t see what difference it makes having it there.

Were you even asked what your pronouns were? Had you put it on a form? Seems incredibly misguided, it could even out somebody unintentionally?!

If asked, you could say that it's against the Yogyakarta principles to force people to disclose their pronouns.

Go back to HR and say you’re very upset that someone made an assumption about your preferred pronouns.

I'd Sharpie over it.

My first thought was Sharpie, too.

It's the equivalent of being ascribed a religious title when you're an atheist in my opinion, drawn into a belief framework without consent.

And just silly

Love this!

Legally you don’t have to…

Go back to HR and get a new one issued!

The more people stand up to this nonsense the better.

Maybe once you've done it others will follow suit.

I don’t understand why your chosen pronouns need to be publicised?

And - how did they know you are she/her if they haven’t asked you?

Are they making assumptions?

Yes this.

Your employer has discriminated against you by making an assumption that you want to use 'she/her'.

At work we are encouraged to specify what pronoun we would like to be used, but it's not obligatory.

I'd be doing exactly this!

Agree. But for the vast majority of us they are not chosen pronouns. They are just pronouns that go with the sex we are. We need to change the language around this.

Definitely get it reissued. If you don't fancy requesting that, understandable in a new job, get the Sharpie on it.

I can see that in a new job it is potentially very difficult to go to HR and demand a new one, if you had be working there a while and they were newly issued it would e different. That said, no way would I wear that as it is. Sharpie or sticker or whatever will be the least prominent. Hopefully it will be a while before (if!) anyone of importance notices, but you can have a polite but firm answer prepared for when you are asked about it.

Exactly - I wasn’t asked and I didn’t volunteer any pronouns on any forms either. It’s the assumption and automatic display that bothers me. It feels like something that should be a personal choice, not a default setting.

Bizarre. What’s the point if they didn’t check.

I’d get it removed anyway.

Request a new one without pronouns and point out that you weren't asked. Someone has just done this automatically, it won't be a problem for you to ask for a replacement.

If everyone else has them and it's company policy I don't see what the big deal is. I certainly wouldn't be making waves in a new job. They should have confirmed them with you though not made assumptions.

I agree with this.

I didn't do the email nonsense either and no-one has ever mentioned it.