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Original poster

Senior colleague refuses to be photographed - what to do

281 replies

Waferbiscuit · 09/11/2024 18:34

We all have be photographed for work with the photos used for internal comms including our intranet. This is a pretty standard approach in large organisations as it helps to identify people. Photos are perfectly fine, generic photos and we get to select the one that is used.

Staff member is very senior but refuses to be photographed as 'doesn't like it/doesn't feel comfortable'. May be an anxiety thing.

Can they opt out? Should this opting out be supported or is this indulgent? Seems to me part of what you sign up for when you're in a senior role.

Staff member is not part of witness protection program, doesn't work in the community and AFAIK no safeguarding or privacy issues.

OP posts:
Diversion · 09/11/2024 22:09

I am not a senior, but I refuse to have my photo taken at work or be on any videos etc. I am not at risk of DA or anything else, but once your photo is shared online, it can end up anywhere. Thankfully the organisation I work for respect mine and the other employees who take the same stance decision.

premierleague · 09/11/2024 22:10

Waferbiscuit · 09/11/2024 19:24

I am sure at the end of the day the law etc is on their side and this person can of course opt out of having their picture taken.

But this is about the fact that when you sign up to something you take on some of the social norms of the organisation and, as a leader/senior person, you lean into expectations of the organisation.

I'm 99% sure that this person isn't in witness protection - there aren't actually that many people in witness protection but in Mumsnet world everybody is! :)

They might have an abusive partner with a track record of finding them online. Unless you're their direct line manager, and it's a disciplinary issue, it's absolutely none of your business.

NotMeNoNo · 09/11/2024 22:11

Didn't the OP say it was for internal Comms and intranet only? That's quite different to being "all over the internet" . I find having photos/headshots as part of internal messages and communications helps to get to know people when you rarely meet them in person these days. Also I have the same name as someone else in the company and it helps cut down the mix ups.

I've read enough previous threads on MN to realise some people are exceptionally sensitive about this so you may have to let it go.

AllTheChaos · 09/11/2024 22:12

So many GDPR issues with this. Imagine - name on email is female. Pronouns are female. Photograph is clearly of someone born male (can’t always tell but often can). Now you know that this person is trans. That’s special characteristic data right there. That’s just one little example of why such policies MUST be voluntary.

AquaPeer · 09/11/2024 22:13

snowmichael · 09/11/2024 21:43

GDPR is absolutely not irrelevant
This is a classic case of a breach of Article 5, section 1c

Show quote history

The person is refusing to have their photo taken. There is no data

Amammai · 09/11/2024 22:14

I work in a school and we’ve just had the debate about photos on the school website. We were all in agreement we’d rather have a cartoon version due to the very real risk of our photos being screen grabbed and used inappropriately by children or parents!

ByAvidMaker · 09/11/2024 22:15

ForPearlViper · 09/11/2024 22:06

I worked in a large university. Our head of department decided that everyone in the team should have photos displayed on a boar in the lobby. I didn't want to but was new and went along with it.

These were days just before everything was on the internet. Our was building was public and on the edge of the campus just near the main part of the shopping area.

Our youngest member of staff, part of the admin team, got horribly hassled in a local in the local pub by people who knew her name and her job from that display.

Since then I refused to have my photo on a website, etc, and supported other who felt the same. If questioned I explained why. I was never questioned on it.

As an aside, I do wonder how the notice of marriage process is still carried out in exactly the same way, irrespective of GDPR.
Full names, addresses and DOB on display, in a public place where anybody can walk in and take a photo...

NeverDropYourMooncup · 09/11/2024 22:18

NotMeNoNo · 09/11/2024 22:11

Didn't the OP say it was for internal Comms and intranet only? That's quite different to being "all over the internet" . I find having photos/headshots as part of internal messages and communications helps to get to know people when you rarely meet them in person these days. Also I have the same name as someone else in the company and it helps cut down the mix ups.

I've read enough previous threads on MN to realise some people are exceptionally sensitive about this so you may have to let it go.

Internal emails can be forwarded and pictures can be snipped in the majority of workplaces where it's not been necessary to prevent it by (expensive) design from the outset.

I don't even like randoms knowing my name rather than my role because of how I've seen others tracked down - I was found by my ex at the last workplace from them publishing my full name online.

Cerealkiller4U · 09/11/2024 22:19

Waferbiscuit · 09/11/2024 19:24

I am sure at the end of the day the law etc is on their side and this person can of course opt out of having their picture taken.

But this is about the fact that when you sign up to something you take on some of the social norms of the organisation and, as a leader/senior person, you lean into expectations of the organisation.

I'm 99% sure that this person isn't in witness protection - there aren't actually that many people in witness protection but in Mumsnet world everybody is! :)

Guarantee she’s fled DV

i don’t allow my children to be photographed and put in social media.

someone else does the same and that was because she felt DV and had a court order
snd not everyone is going to tell you that part of themselves so you’ll never know.

PorridgeEater · 09/11/2024 22:19

Diomi · 09/11/2024 20:50

This isn’t something I would worry about as it doesn’t really matter.

Agree with this, and others who've said similar.
Is it really worth worrying about?

Cerealkiller4U · 09/11/2024 22:20

Happierthaneverr · 09/11/2024 18:41

You’ve no idea why they are saying no. I’ve worked with people before who cannot be photographed for very obvious safeguarding reasons.

This

fjrend of mines kids couldn’t be photographed. Years later she told me it was because they were taken from a very neglected home that was in a very open court case. It was part of her contract with the adoption company

it happens all the time and you’ll never known

TriesNotToBeCynical · 09/11/2024 22:25

Ponderingwindow · 09/11/2024 18:55

I absolutely hate that I have to be photographed for work, but it is in my contract because my work is high security. I was aghast when they added those same photos to our internal communications a couple of years ago. It makes me extremely uncomfortable every single time I have to see my own face in that little circle. I can handle wearing my badge, but those computer images just feel so much more invasive. I hate whoever came up with the idea and convinced the corporate world that it was inclusive. It is most definitely not inclusive.

I find the idea that a "high security" organisation has photos of all its staff floating around on an email server, ready to be accidentally or deliberately sent to any other staff member and relatively hackable doesn't meet my definition of a high security organisation - more the Keystone Kops.

ludicrouslycapaciousbags · 09/11/2024 22:25

I'm senior.

Absolutely refuse to have any pictures taken in a work capacity.

Also absolutely gorgeous.

Cerealkiller4U · 09/11/2024 22:25

Waferbiscuit · 09/11/2024 19:24

I am sure at the end of the day the law etc is on their side and this person can of course opt out of having their picture taken.

But this is about the fact that when you sign up to something you take on some of the social norms of the organisation and, as a leader/senior person, you lean into expectations of the organisation.

I'm 99% sure that this person isn't in witness protection - there aren't actually that many people in witness protection but in Mumsnet world everybody is! :)

Yeah. But you’re not 100%

so it’s totally plausible. .

TriesNotToBeCynical · 09/11/2024 22:26

ludicrouslycapaciousbags · 09/11/2024 22:25

I'm senior.

Absolutely refuse to have any pictures taken in a work capacity.

Also absolutely gorgeous.

Me too!

landofgiants · 09/11/2024 22:27

I have always refused to have my photo taken/displayed for work. I’ll be in a group shot but not anything where I am photographed and named. It’s normally no issue at all (I just state my position and refuse to negotiate) but at my last work place there was a bit of pushback.

That said, I think it depends on the role (and what it says in your contract). Some jobs come with the expectation that you will be photographed/filmed etc.

BeardofHagrid · 09/11/2024 22:29

I do not have my face anywhere on the internet and I never would, it’s personal choice and you can’t force the person to if they don’t consent.

Why not use a generic profile picture for those who don’t consent?

Senior colleague refuses to be photographed - what to do
landofgiants · 09/11/2024 22:31

Or they could just take a photograph of something they like to use as an identifier…..

Franjipanl8r · 09/11/2024 22:39

I had an online stalker years ago and haven’t had a single photo of me online since.

EarthlingHere · 09/11/2024 22:48

YABVU, you have no idea the reason for this. I once had to refuse my photo taken as I didn’t want an abusive ex to find out where I worked. I refused LinkedIn as well when pushed to get an account.

AngryBookworm · 09/11/2024 22:54

There's absolutely no reason to have your photo on a work intranet - half of the things internal comms teams are in charge of seem to exist solely to justify the existence of internal comms teams. If it affects her personal brand careerwise that's her business and a decision for her to make (depending on the sector, maybe not as much as you'd think). An ID card, sure, but I imagine she has one of those already and just doesn't want her picture floating around - which is completely reasonable.

ThomasPatrickKeatingsDegas · 09/11/2024 22:56

I had a stalker while at university, and I completely deleted my online presence, it was until he was hospitalised absolutely isolating and shit. You have no idea why this person doesn’t want their photo online and it’s none of your business. If I’d found out someone was being nosy I’d complain to HR. Keep your beak out of it.

Cerealkiller4U · 09/11/2024 22:57

TriesNotToBeCynical · 09/11/2024 22:25

I find the idea that a "high security" organisation has photos of all its staff floating around on an email server, ready to be accidentally or deliberately sent to any other staff member and relatively hackable doesn't meet my definition of a high security organisation - more the Keystone Kops.

Show quote history

Totally agree! 😂

Tanktanktank · 09/11/2024 22:59

I moved counties, jobs, totally left my old life behind for a reason, I’ve ensured that as much as I can I remain very difficult to find, social media not in my real name etc etc, no photos of me. Purposely careful on not getting my photo and name appearing in the local newspaper etc for a hobby I have.

they may not be in witness protection but they may have valid reasons for not wanting ‘to be found’.

another person can easily have the same name, but as soon as you attach a picture to that name you are found.

Kittyshortage · 09/11/2024 23:00

YABU