Palestinian flag as Teams profile picture

[Flaggingup]

I’m a civil servant in HMRC. We are supposed to be politically impartial.

This afternoon I took part in a large Teams call. We are encouraged to have our photos on our Teams profile. I noticed one person had a Palestinian flag as her profile picture. I wonder if I should ignore it or tell her manager. But I assume the manager is already aware?

I wonder how the Israeli flag would go down?

whats the issue?

Yes the manager is definitely already aware, I would keep well clear of the whole situation and say nothing.

Either or any flag in a show of ‘solidarity’ on your employee teams account is a bit silly in my opinion.

Inappropriate and unoeofessional.

Mind your business

I wouldn’t say anything - the person’s manager must be aware (assuming they talk to each other) and it is for the manager to raise if they feel it violates any political neutrality rules.

Civil servants are supposed to be impartial, duh. Taking one side over another is not being impartial quite apart from another ‘national’ flag.

It’s still not your business, as you were on a teams call with lots of other people I’m sure it’s been noticed

No. It someone had the Israel flag or Russia flag they would be asked to remove it no doubt.

bloody hell - do you seriously not get the issue!??

It's entirely inappropriate and against the CS code of conduct @Flaggingup - Report.

Is she Palestinian?

Lots of British people have the union flag or their nation’s flag on profiles.

I'm public sector and I would definitely report this. Probably not to the line manager though, maybe to Internal Comms or HR?

I agree it is inappropriate. It's not a photo taken in front of one, or say when visiting before 2023.

Suggest it is raised informally with their manager.

It's not appropriate, but I wouldn't report it. Their Manager will see it soon enough.

I seriously dont get it.

I would report it, it’s not appropriate and goes against the impartiality

rivertimez · Today 17:16

I seriously dont get it.

OP is suggesting that it’s inappropriate for her colleague to express support for Palestine while on a teams meeting for an institution that is supposed to be politically unbiased, where staff should keep their political views to themselves.

What don't you get, hun? Be specific and I am sure someone will be able to explain it simply to you 😘

Well it's not exactly a secret or unwitnessed act. Lots of people, including this person's line manager, already know about it and for whatever reason have not required the person to take it down. So I'd leave it alone, personally. Unless I had reasons that it genuinely bothered me and made it difficult to deal with this person, in which case I'd probably nicely ask them myself if they could change it.

The OP has not answered this obvious question.

Report. Unprofessional and inappropriate.

I do'nt get the issue, hun. Is that specific enough for you, hun? 💏

Civil service teams profiles? Or facebook?

Yep, I’d report it - it’s a clear breach of policy on neutrality.

I would leave it well alone. Although it is not appropriate, I just wouldn't get mixed up in the mess.

I can assure you no one has a union jack as their profile photo on teams in the civil service.