Pronouns in work signatures- how do I stop it?

[SloppyThePoodle]

My employer has just mentioned they want people to start putting pronouns in email signatures. They have said it isn't mandatory. My question is, should I contact management to explain why this isn't a good idea, and if so, what sources can I provide?
Thanks all
(Hope i posted this in the right place)

Not a soul from Engineering, Projects nor Finance added pronouns and viewed HR as the intellectual weak link of the company.

Which, to be fair, it probably is

I put my pronouns on my signature, did it even before it became a 'thing'. Like some others before on this thread I was often mistaken for a man because of my name, the pronouns remove any confusion.
I don't think they are a big deal as long as it's not compulsory.

My automatic reaction was to say you don’t need to do it and leave it at that. On the other hand, if it becomes a workplace culture,it might stop others referring to you as ‘they’ and ‘their’ if you haven’t made it explicit. Sorry – it’s really hard not to be part of a system, however new.

I have spent a lifetime with people for who it is "all about me".

Sadly it can rub off on one.

I very much doubt anyone will start to refer to me as "they" but even if they did, quite frankly I couldn't summon up the energy to care!

Well, quite! It does seem late, and after the ideology has all but been debunked through the supreme court. I was hoping we would continue to focus on more important things but clearly not. There is a new focus on "pride month" so perhaps some new HR person is into it and is trying to drag all us dinosaurs into the 21st century? I have no idea. It will be interesting to see how many people change their signatures.

Just don't do it. Others won't either. Just don't give this nonsense oxygen.

If you're asked why you've opted out (unlikely), say you don't feel it's necessary to draw attention to the fact that you're a woman/man in the workplace, "gender" is not relevant to email interactions, and you're surprised at the suggestion it would be.

Out-woke them basically.

Doesn’t matter, they shouldn’t be mentioning it at all, let alone asking for voluntary use.

whereas i spent years signing off with Initial Lastname and did a quick check of emails before sending to remove all the "this was written by a woman" markers.

My email address has been initial & lastname for ever, and it often surprises people when they speak to me on the phone, or meet me for the first time, that I'm not a grumpy old man but a tattooed lady with candyfloss pink hair.

Make of that what you will, but unlike my she/her or Ms/Mrs or obviously female named colleagues, i was never second guessed on my competence.

If you are only communicating through emails then why does it matter someone thinks you are male, and how do you know? As soon as you meet face to face, or another colleague refers to you as ‘she’ then they would realise which sex you are. As has been shown, it can be beneficial to be thought of as male.

An email signature could be a typical female name with she/her pronouns, but the person behind it could actually be a six foot hulking bloke with a beard.

How can it be unlawful if its not mandatory?

Its not mandatory so the people who find it helpful to include pronouns can use them, the people who dislike the idea of pronouns don't need to use them, and the people who couldn't care less can do either!

Everyone wins.

It’s likely unlawful to even suggest pronouns in this country. If you read the analysis linked it explains it.

“My pronouns are fuck and off”

🤔

on second thoughts, not a very professional way to end an email 🫢

If you don't have to do it, why do you care? At some point you have to ask yourself why you're so very bothered about something that doesn't affect you in the slightest.

I care because its not a neutral act is it?

Neutral is whacking a line in the email signature standard that you should use size 12 font/ black text AND you can add pronouns if you want.... And leave it at that. Maybe a mention that 'we have revised the email signature policy, have a read & make sure you adhere to it. The End.

Wittering that they'd like you to use pronouns & any linked shite about 'being a good ally' (looking at you my employer) brings nuance to it being 'not mandatory'.

I am not doing pronouns in my email signature. If asked why not "my gender identity is private". (Nobody will ever ask)

I have just refused. It looks like I'm the only one and I don't care. I sometimes get "reminded" about it, and "John will help if you don't know how to do it" but I still refuse.

That approach gets the #bekind virtue signallers scratching their heads.

I think @lechiffre55 has the ideal approach but if you want to push back just ask them what gender is and why it matters? That should keep them busy for a while as no one ever seems to be able to come up with a cohesive definition. I would follow up with asking how you would know if you had a gender identity?

We had our regular 'Interviewer Guidance' sent round , yep, including all the protected characteristics you can't ask about. No problem there.

Except, we're expected to add pronouns to our signatures, have the seemingly eight-weekly "diversity training" where, in the test questions, if anyone is a victim, they're easy to guess.

And all the top brass are adding their pronouns... really? Now?

Are Stonewall trying to recoup their lost money by mopping up sloppy seconds or something?

Jonathan Pie episode "Identity" covered this a little ...

Wouldn’t pronouns count as personal information.
Ask if the recording of this info is adhering to GDPR guidelines.

Your post has at least 8 pronouns in it. What’s your problem?

Isn't this what "name"(Mr/Ms) is for? After all, you want to know how to address them, not how to talk about them?

It’s not mandatory so I don’t understand the outrage (tbh I wouldn’t understand the outrage even if you were made to add them - it takes two seconds and makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to your life).