Senior colleague refuses to be photographed - what to do

[Waferbiscuit]

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.

Senior colleague refuses to be photographed - what to do

What do to?

Mind your own fucking business OP, that’s what you do.

I don't understand why this matters to you?

Why are you asking? What's it got to do with you?

I can only assume that you don't think it's a good idea and are a bit miffed that "senior" colleagues can refuse (but you feel you can't?)

If there's no policy covering this and it's not in your contract, say no - unless you are happy to have your photo published

Also your post is contradictory. If there is no company policy on this you can't expect senior executives to support a non-existent policy

What have we come to?! Can someone not just say 'Nah, don't want a photo of myself out there' and that be a personal choice without everyone wanting you to prove you've been abused, stalked or in a witness protection programme? Are those the only valid reasons?

We used to have things called privacy and autonomy...

As a first option I would ask them if they would be happy to provide their own photo

Your request is overkill.
”Going along with it” cannot be forced. I suggest you back down. If it’s not policy tough, cannot be enforced.
I refuse to have my photo taken, was with an abusive obsessive ex, took me almost a decade to leave. No way would I compromise that for anyone.

This ♥️♥️♥️♥️

@SilverChampagne helpful post as always. Well done you

Why on earth does it matter. I am fairly senior I refuse to have my photo taken.

People do not need to know what I look like unless I meet them.

The company do not own me and my reasons are none of anyone else's business.

Society has this ridiculous idea that a company can call the shots. Eh nope you get my expertise, delivery of projects etc.

They also don't get me to have 'personal' social media where I link them.

People really need to learn and respect boundaries.

He has a senior position, he's not agreed to sign his life over.

which of you is senior to the other?

Either way 'No. I am not having my photo taken & used in this way, substitute a picture of a random cocker spaniel. (Please) Don't bring this up again.

YABU. They could have fleed an abusive relationship, had a stalker or be estranged from family members and not want to be tracked down or outed by an online image. They don't need to explain this to you. Even if it feels unlikely this is the scenario, you never know what's going on for people.

It’s considerably less weird that he/she doesn’t want their photo taken than that their refusal is bothering you so much.

(When we were all being leaned on to provide photos for a staff website, one particularly reluctant colleague supplied a holiday of her wearing ski goggles and a helmet.)

Your reluctant colleague had the right idea!

I think the problem with your suggestion is that the "senior" colleague didn't object because the official photo was unflattering or otherwise unsatisfactory.

They simply didn't want their photo on display at all

So the idea they supply their own photo is err..... pointless

(Unless they post a skiing holiday photo complete with ski mask and reflective goggles with not a cm^2 of facial skin showing...)

But witness protection isn't the only reason someone would prefer not to have their photo 'out there'

Why is your imagination and compassion so limited?

This would be a non-starter at my work - visibility is part of the role and if you don't want your photo taken you'll not be able to carry out a lot of the role. Think LinkedIn posts, press releases, interviews, videos online etc.

I suppose someone could start work at our company who didn't want their picture taken in a very junior role but it would absolutely limit their career progression to that very junior role if they weren't able to have their picture taken and shared online. Anyone coming into this job would know this though so I can't imagine a situation where someone wouldn't expect to have their picture taken but still got to a senior position. We all have our pictures taken and used constantly.

Their choice.

Unless there is a policy that says you must be photographed then not compulsory.

I have colleagues who don't have their photographs on team, emails etc.

Ours are for internal purposes only but still their right to withdraw consent as we don't have a policy as compulsory.

Actually you simply cannot insist that people have their photo taken for these purposes, and even if they have a "good reason" they are under noobligation to tell you. IME it is actually pretty standard in large organisations that people have the right to opt out. That said, what are you going to do - sack her? I look forward to seeing that particular employment tribunal - you will be slaughtered.

A photograph (for use on websites etc.) is among the most sensitive forms of personal data
You should educate yourself on GDPR - it's not difficult, the law is only 19 pages long - before saying things that are obviously incorrect

Unless that was made clear in the contract of employment, "everybody else does it" is insufficient grounds to override any data subject's right to withdraw consent at any time for any reason or none, and even if it were a condition of employment I strongly suspect you'd lose any tribunal case brought against you for either discrimination, or unlawful ir constructive dismissal
GDPR legislation gives everyone the right of consent, you override it at your legal and financial peril

'Expectations' do not override GDPR - one article of which is all about consent

Except in cases of genuine threat (e.g. escaping DV, or adopted children) I think it's a bit ridiculous and precious to refuse. "I don't like how I look in photos" is a bit pathetic. I don't particularly either, but I know what my face looks like.
I'm senior in my organisation and it's important that staff know who I am so can approach me should they need to.
Do you also refuse to show your face walking down the street? Cameras are everywhere, as are eyes.
I know this won't be a popular view on MN though.

It should be covered in your data protection policy. A photograph is personal data.

@snowmichael it's literally part of the job. It's not like there is "the job" and then separately a general expectation of photos being taken for teams or whatever which has nothing to do with the job. If you can't have your photo taken and put online there is a large part of the senior jobs you just won't be able to fulfil, which is about client outreach, sales, and promoting the business, but you wouldn't get near those roles without knowing that anyway and performing well in a more junior role.

All I was trying to say was that in my particular line of work, if you don't want or can't have photos taken for safety reasons then you will not be capable of doing large portions of the job . So it would be a non starter. Only the OP knows if this is the case for their scenario though.