Scared I'm going to be outed at work

[Scarystuffhelp]

Argh I'm so scared. We got sent an anonymous survey to fill out at work. It was full of gender woo and where possible I made some (very measured and reasonable) comments about only recording gender identity and not sex, and not wanting to have to use the label cisgender. The survey made clear it was entirely anonymous and would not be linked to individuals.

One of the people who must have carried out the survey is discussing the results on our intranet. He has copy and pasted some of my comments and basically tried to tear them to shreds in the comments (using absolutely nonsense arguments of course like if you haven't had your chromosomes tested you don't know your sex). Loads of people have piled on agreeing with him and saying how awful and bigoted it is and that's it's disgusting etc.

I'm now really scared that I'm going to be outed at work and being made a hate target. They're all saying "poor trans people" etc but I didn't say anything at all about trans people, just that the survey should record sex not gender identity and that I didn't want to have to label myself as cisgender. But the vitriol is so scary.

I'm pretty sure that the responses are anonymous and unless the IT team went to great lengths to search for my IP address (which I'm sure they can't) it can't be traced back to me. But I'm still sitting here shaking and so scared.

I'm thinking of emailing HR to complain that it's unethical to pick apart an anonymous survey response publicly and encourage hateful comments but then it would point the finger in my direction.

Argh why are these people SO full of hatred (and stupidity)?

Bloody hell what absolute garbage. They can't out you it would be a massive breach of GDPR. Then you could sue them. Personally I could care less what brainwashed idiots think, don't let them bully you they cannot out an anonymous survey. I get it feels really awkward but that's as far as it goes.

Have only just seen the post from OP saying she has sent an email.

Well done, and if it has led to comments being taken down brilliant.

Believing in sex based rights isn't a protected characteristic but is a "belief worthy of respect" and as the court case(*) this was said at also made clear, it is the obligation of the employer to ensure that opposing beliefs are given equal balance.

And in allowing their internal message system to be taken up with one sided bigotry means that are at fault in not creating a work environment that those with sex based rights views are treated with respect.

(*) sorry typing in a rush but nearly certain this was Maya Forstater.

Well done, I have done similar in the past and I got a reasonable response.

I suppose it's more accurate to say holding a protected belief rather than having a protected characteristic but it boils down to the same thing.

It seems to me that the issue irrespective of which side of the argument you stand in that extracts from what was supposed to be an anonymous survey have been shared AND the tone of some of the comments

If someone were sounding off in this way, about something I agreed with, I'm pretty sure I would be horrified or at least uncomfortable that someone was making my beliefs look unpleasant, even crazy.

He's got to have alienated some people through his bullying, crassness and nonsense (don't know your sex without a chromosome test?! What a dickhead!)

have you had children? then you know you're a woman, don't you?

But in your shoes? pragmatic approach: don't out yourself, keep your job.

I don't agree. Accurate data is and has been so important in this fight for women's rights. The data needs to be accurate. It doesn't mean ticking a box that you know is a Lie or you dont agree with. But it means observing the inaccurate questions and challenging. Even if, one by one we challenge.

I have never agreed on here about coming over the parapet. There is a lot of 'I might lose my job'. I don't believe that. I interpret that to be I care somewhat but can't be bothered to have the conversation. But someone else can, then I'll join in the glory. Not great.

You’ve done nothing wrong OP, but for me this is why these discussions are just not for the workplace. It’s a subject that- especially now- lots of people have very strong feelings about at both ends of the spectrum, it’s very emotive, and when you invite comments from everybody you get both extremes and everything inbetween and I’ve honestly never really seen it capable of being a balanced & respectful discussion.

We’ve had a massive issue with something similar in our office the last 2 weeks, not my team but the team that sits directly behind me. A few colleagues were chatting about gender identity, sex vs gender, and the SC ruling on their lunch break but in the office, other colleagues heard and passed their own comments and it really ended up getting quite nasty, with now management involvement, union involvement, potential disciplinary action & threats of dismissal- it’s just not a topic that I think works in the workplace, at least not right now.

To be fair, genitals are on a spectrum… I’ve seen some large penises, and I suspect this man has a very small one.

I don’t believe anyone legally has to use someone’s preferred pronouns - compelled speech is not a thing in the UK. Of course an organisation may ‘manage someone out’ for not complying, but it couldn’t be the given reason.

You may want to check before offering such advice

I’m also surprised that you seem to think it’s ok to publicly quote from an anonymous survey. Whether you agree with someone or not, the term ‘anonymous’ might give you some clue about how the data may be used.

Good for you, OPand what a good result. I wonder if he'll be disciplined for it?

I agree we should have accurate data.

I also believe you don't get that unless people trust the system. And they don't. For good reason.

Well done, OP, I hope you have screenshots, and that he's on the disciplinary pathway.

Sounds horrible OP. I don't know what to advice. I'd probably just ignore.

I don't fill them out, they can say anonymous all they like but after a few questions about role etc I'd be easily idenifiable.

My manager kept going on how one person in the team still hadn't filled it out last time so they obviously can track to some degree.

I just avoid the question now.

Nothing will change anyway, all just filling HR's time and to look good.

It’s a protected characteristic in that it falls under the category of protected philosophical beliefs in the same way as other subdivisions fall under other protected characteristics. Hope this helps.

You appear to be projecting what you imagine OP did in answering the survey, rather than reading and comprehending her posts.

Please inform yourself better about the law rather than getting your information from TRA propaganda.

It’s a protected characteristic in that it falls under the category of protected philosophical beliefs in the same way as other subdivisions fall under other protected characteristics. Hope this helps.

Earlier I quoted the judge in the Maya Forstater case who said that the belief in sex based rights is worthy of respect. And so employers should not treat this belief any better or worse than those who believe you can change sex(!) ie employers shouldn't give one group priority.

But now I am thinking, it is no longer a "belief". In fact the Supreme Court ruling saying that sex is biological means that it is a protected characteristic because the Court has clarified sex means biology!

Thank you Supreme Court.

Our sex is a protected characteristic not just a "belief" in bilogical reality!

It is factual, but in terms of the EA the “belief” that sex is immutable and important is better protected.

Yes because no one ever expected the ability to know and express material facts would need to be protected under equality law. It has to be framed as a philosophical belief to be protected. It feels like we're already living in a dystopia.

Why can’t you write an anonymous letter at home.
Print it off and send it to HR

Explain vilifying comments on the intranet is hateful etc etc You could also mention the term cisgender is a hate term and ignoring sex in the workplace against the SC ruling.
No one would know the letter was from you.
Personally I’d copy it to any senior members of staff too.

Meanwhile a huge round of applause for standing up for your beliefs 👏👏👏

We have an annual survey at work (12k employees) and I tick “would rather not say” on the Equal Opps bits. One year we got an email saying the Would Rather Not Says are skewing the figures but I don’t really care, tbh. I’m not taking part in that circus, even though I’m a boring white straight woman. Thankfully it’s done by an external company and we don’t see any results until months later, plus any comments are restricted.

Our staff survey starts by asking ethnic origin, age group, sex, job type, grade, department.

I haven't completed one of those in 40 years. (and I ain't starting now).

One year we got an email saying the Would Rather Not Says are skewing the figures

and ANYONE with any clue about how stats works would be asking themselves how to handle that.

Usually it's just make shit up.

Of course the real response is

"if it really is (a) anonymous and (b) voluntary, then what does the lack of responses say about trust in the organisation and peoples motivation as a function of that"