Banking giant Halifax has said that anyone who doesn't agree with its decision to start using pronouns on staff members' badges is welcome to close their account. The announcement about the badges has started quite a debate online.
It started when Halifax shared a photo on Twitter with the name Gemma and 'she/her/hers' on it. Some users reacted negatively to this, accusing the bank of unnecessary "virtue signalling".
But other praised the move, including charity Stonewall, reports ChronicleLive, which said: “It’s great to see workplaces like @HalifaxBank offering staff the option of including their pronouns on badges. Having pronouns on badges is a simple yet impactful way to make sure LGBTQ+ identities are respected – for employees and customers alike “make sure LGBTQ+ identities are respected.”
On Twitter, Jamie QTLS said: “If a person is wearing a NAME badge, wouldn’t it more polite to use that NAME, isn’t that the point of a NAME badge, otherwise, why put the NAME on the NAME badge in the first place?”
Halifax replied to Jamie: “Hi Jamie. We want to create a safe and accepting environment that opens the conversation around gender identity. We care about our customers and colleagues' individual preferences. For us, it’s a very simple solution to accidental misgendering. ^Lee”
Simon Edge said: “What if a Halifax employee doesn’t want to put pronouns on their lapel, perhaps because they reject the cult of gender ideology? Will they be disadvantaged in any way? Barred from promotion? Fired?”
To one critical user who accused the bank of “alienating” people, Halifax tweeted: “We strive for inclusion, equality and quite simply, in doing what’s right. If you disagree with our values, you’re welcome to close your account.”
A spokesperson for Halifax said the bank wanted to “create a safe and accepting environment that opens the conversation around gender identity. We care about our customers and colleagues individual preferences.
"For us, it’s a very simple solution to accidental misgendering. Adding pronouns to badges is optional for all workers, which the bank hopes will support colleagues to be themselves and feel included.”
