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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want my photograph on the Company Organisation Chart? Can I refuse?

26 replies

NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 12:55

I've just been asked to have my photograph taken for the Company Organisation Chart. I absolutely do not want this to happen! Apart from the fact that I hate having my photograph taken to start with (OK I suppose it's only a couple of seconds though) this Chart will be sent out to, well, whoever asks for it!

I've managed to put them off until tomorrow to take the picture "so I can wash my hair in the morning" (I know...but that's all I could think of on the spur of the moment)

I don't see how they can make me have my photograph on this chart...or can they?

OP posts:
5Foot5 · 12/05/2010 12:58

I think YABU. I don't understand your objection.

It is very useful to have a face to put to the name in any organisation. In the last place I worked everyone had their photo taken on the first day and it was put near their entry in the company telephone list.

I wish we had that where I work now.

SardineJam · 12/05/2010 13:00

I'm not too bothered with my picture going on charts, but the last time they needed to do a chart they didnt have a picture of me, so put a picture of Cameron Diaz dont know whether they can make you have your picture on the chart though

Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 13:02

A telephone list I wouldn't object to, but this is to send out to other companies, potential suppliers and customers , go into the H&S Policy etc.

OP posts:
SalFresco · 12/05/2010 13:08

YANBU to hate the idea of it!
YABU to refuse to do it though...sorry...!

cassell · 12/05/2010 13:21

In our firm they take your picture early on and it goes on the intranet and on tender docs/marketing stuff etc to be sent to clients - can't say I like it (or the picture they took!) but it's a necessary evil. So yabu (but yanbu not to like the idea as others have said!)

Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 13:32

Hmm, going to have to speak to someone about this I reckon, get some more info as to what they're going to do with it

Why just me though I wonder? Will try to find out

I do appreciate your input

OP posts:
IndigoSky · 12/05/2010 13:40

We had our photos taken on day 1 at my first post-uni job. They went on your passes and were used in all the corporate blurb. I was asked to change it after about 5 years as I looked nothing like my day 1 photo! I always found them v useful.

Hope you get it sorted. Tbh, I would just bite the bullet and co operate.

Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 13:56

IndigoSky - did you have quite an important job though? If I did then I wouldn't bat an eyelid but I'm 'at the bottom of the ladder' so to speak (typist/admin person)

Spoke to the person who's putting the chart together, he was a bit vague and tried to make a joke out of it - "I want it for my bedroom wall" then when he realised I wasn't happy he said he'd call me back

OP posts:
zipzap · 12/05/2010 14:14

Could you do a caricature of yourself and submit that instead or do a photo with a paper bag over your head and a drawn on face?

I'm useless at art but would be able to manage a smiley - might even be able to give it an approximate hair style to my own and would just send them that if I didn't want my photo up there for all and sundry to see. Or do a wee-mee type thing on the internet and send them that. Or would get them to turn my photo into a cameo of me (ie just an outline) if they really wanted something 'real'.

Do you know if anybody else doesn't like this? or is it a case of getting to everybody individually and each being told 'everybody else is doing it, nobody else complained' so thinking you have to give in. Maybe if you could find some other allies who don't want their photos distributed far and wide you will have more success than trying to avoid it alone.

You could also asked what their official policy is for those people that don't want a photo displayed (I'm sure that there are a few people somewhere that would have a very strong 'don;t want to be photo-ed and distributed' reason). Unless it's no photo - no job, then they haven't got much of leg to stand on I'd have thought...

IndigoSky · 12/05/2010 14:35

Everyone from the head honchos to the secretaries to the mail room people to the people in reception had them. As I became more senior within the organisation then my picture was used more and sent out on tender docs/press releases etc but everyone had to have one.

My only concern for you would be if you are the only one who refuses then that draws more attention to you/your refusal iyswim.

I hope you get it sorted. Keep us posted.

Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 15:06

zipzap you're thinking along the same lines as me - I've got a squeaky smiley face on a stick in my office, the 'face' is about the size of a football, and I wanted to offer them that but I thought I'd better not

IndigoSky yes that's a worry to me too, I certainly don't want to be seen to be being awkward or creating an unnecessary fuss

I've found out that one (only one out of 4) of the ladies in the main office was asked to have hers done and she said pretty much the same as me. When she spoke to the person who's putting the chart together he told her it'll be for internal use only. She asked why we need an internal chart (an external one - without photographs - has been in place for years, neither of us are on it though) and she also asked "why me", but she just got the same joke as I got, i.e. "for my bedroom wall"

She says she's not having hers done until she gets a straight answer as to what's likely to happen to it

It's all gone very quiet now, the other person is only part-time so has gone home. I'll see if anyone comes to take my picture tomorrow

OP posts:
MrsC2010 · 12/05/2010 16:08

I don't really get the problem to be honest. In all of my office based jobs I have had my picture taken and used in promo material, on the wall, on the phone list etc. Ir's pretty standard.

What is your objection?

GetOrfMoiLand · 12/05/2010 16:09

There is a photo of me in the front foyer of my office.

I look like a hideous gurning moron.

Never mind.

Not much you can do, I'm afraid. It is just the hell that is corporate life.

CarGirl · 12/05/2010 16:16

I've got the same thing only it's a voluntary position for a charity. So far I've sent them a photo of the red haired smurf; I'm very short with red hair.

They've asked for a bout 2 months - still holding out on them.

I loathe photos with an intense passion and it feels like my privacy is being invaded. Would love to know the legal position.

Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 16:21

My objection is that I don't want them sending a photo of me outside of the Company

I've worked here for nearly 10 years, why now? And why me? The other person feels the same, she's been here 4 years longer than me. There doesn't seem to be any pattern as to who's been asked about this, it doesn't make any sense

As I've already said though, if it's for internal use only I've no problem with it. We just don't seem to be getting a straight answer to anything

The other person asked her boss if he knew anything and he said it's "probably to do with an audit" but if that was the case surely everyone would be involved

OP posts:
Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 16:22

"I loathe photos with an intense passion and it feels like my privacy is being invaded"

Me too CarGirl, so glad I'm not the only one, thank you!

OP posts:
Unsearchable · 12/05/2010 16:26

Wear a niqab. They aren't allowed to insist you take it off, or that you continue to wear it after the photo.

ILoveGregoryHouse · 12/05/2010 16:29

I used to work in HR for a small part of a very large bank. We had photos on intranet but I seem to recall legal advice was we could not force people to have their photos and a very few people exercised that right. So, I don't think you have to. What's the real likelihood of your photo being sent outside? Can you ask specifically for that not to happen?

CarGirl · 12/05/2010 16:34

Ours is going up on a board so anyone coming into the organisation is going to see it, I'm not photogenic and I don't want one up there EVER. There aren't any photos of me up in our home.

IveStillGotIt · 12/05/2010 16:35

At least with your 'wash hair' excuse, you can make yourself look stunning!!!
At my work, we have a 'whos who' board, and my photo was taking, without warning, when i was half asleep and hungover!!! And the woman who took the photos hadn't adjusted the lense thingy, so my face looks fat at the sides and really skinny in the middle!!!
I think YABU as everyone else in your work will be having their photo taken, and I think its standard in most work places to have staff photos up, so people can identify who everyone is.

Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 16:39

ILoveGregoryHouse it looks like you're spot on

My boss has just said it's in the Data Protection Act that they're not allowed to make someone have their photo taken if they don't want to

I did say that if they could definitely tell me it wasn't going outside it was fine but I never got an answer

"There aren't any photos of me up in our home". Snap again CarGirl!

OP posts:
Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 16:43

LOL at the niqab btw

IveStillGotIt unfortunately it would be impossible for me to make myself look stunning...

That's exactly it though - everyone else wasn't having it done, there was just no pattern at all as to who had been asked and who hadn't - that's what me and the other lady couldn't work out, and no one was giving us any answers

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 12/05/2010 16:47

They can't make you - and even if (as in our organisation) they have your photo on a system (e.g. from a pass photo) they can't use it for other stuff without your permission.

Various team leaders have tried to do intranet sites with photos of everyone on and some people always decline.

Original poster
NotActuallyAMum · 12/05/2010 16:50

stealthsquiggle, that's interesting - thank you. There is a (albeit very old) photo of me in my personnel file (same for everyone, only 2 people have access to it though) and I had started to wonder if they'd just nick that

OP posts:
goldenticket · 12/05/2010 16:56

I am exactly the same as you - our organisation had photos done and I was asked to have one taken. Strangely enough, I wasn't in the day they came (I work flexibly). I wouldn't have my photo on FB either (still holding out against a profile too). Usually I am a complete lone voice about this kind of thing but I do wonder why people don't guard their privacy more carefully tbh - once it's gone, it's gone.