Employer insisting on name change

POPPYOSCAR

This reminded me of when our son had a Saturday job at Woolworths.


As all staff had to wear a name badge rather than have one made they gave him one they already had from someone that had left.


We all thought it was hilarious and 'Dave' became his nickname for a long time afterwards.

FBaby

There are ways and means of identifying who customers spoke to. Telephone systems that staff log into with a unique ID. Customer file systems that keep audit trails of who has accessed the notes. People giving out their full name, or first name and last initial, or a call reference number, or their ID number, or anything else unique.

Asking people to adopt a new name is frankly ridiculous and just a lazy policy when there are plenty of other viable solutions.

But all those solutions are more complex, time consuming or more costly to administer. I suppose it all comes down to some people being more attached to their names than others. Personally, if I was told to adopt a different name at work, and I could chose which one as long as not the name of someone already there, I would find it quite entertaining. I really wouldn't mind, so although I can understand that some people might not like it, I can't understand that someone could be so offended by the prospect that they would rather quit. There are tasks I have to do at work that I would never do myself at home because I don't agree with them, but to me, work and home is separate, extending this to the name would just be another thing that is different.

Wyndham

Your name is such a personal thing. And we all instinctively respond to our own name in a way we wouldn't with a 'false' one (I believe this is the basis of many a crime novel!)

My name has various shorter versions of it, and I would agree to one of those if it would help, but to change it completely is just daft and insulting.

One other note, and sorry to be picky, but OP the phrase "Christian name" isn't really used anymore, we all have first names now. Something to do with us not all being christian

robatwork

This thread continues to make me shake my head disbelievingly.

OP can you tell us this person's first name as I find it impossible to understand why her and her employer can't come up with a compromise. Just about every name I can think of can have a realistic nickname. My own name has about 10 variations (but I never was a Bob!)

Wyndham

robatwork wrote: »

This thread continues to make me shake my head disbelievingly.

OP can you tell us this person's first name as I find it impossible to understand why her and her employer can't come up with a compromise. Just about every name I can think of can have a realistic nickname. My own name has about 10 variations (but I never was a Bob!)

Well, off the top of my head, how would you shorten:
Amy
Caroline
Claire
Ian
Paul
Ruth
Graham
Lisa
Lucy
Ann......

And, even if you could, what sort of employer would *force* you to do so. You say you've never been a Bob, what if that were the only variant left and you had to take it, how would you feel then?

Nick_C

Wyndham wrote: »

One other note, and sorry to be picky, but OP the phrase "Christian name" isn't really used anymore, we all have first names now. Something to do with us not all being christian

I'm not at all religious but I have two Christian names, and I answer to either of them. People who know me well use my middle name. People who don't know me but are overly familiar use my first name. I happily answer to either of them.

I still don't like complete strangers using my given name, and I rather like the idea of having a work name. It would, for me, reintroduce the element of formality that I prefer, while allowing others the comfortable illusion of being on first name terms.

Jazee

When I started my job there were four people in the team with the same first name as me and I found it very confusing so asked to be addressed by a lengthened version of my name. Twenty years on, I'm the only one left in the team but the 'new' name has obviously stuck and I actually quite like it.

However, I wouldn't have like to have been asked to change it. My name, my choice.

MacMickster

welshbookworm wrote: »

I'd say my name was Hathrylithoedd.
It means Genius in Welsh

The only pseudo first names that I would accept would be either Mistermacmickster or Sir.

dacouch

Wyndham wrote: »

Well, off the top of my head, how would you shorten:

Caroline

Now that is a difficult name to shorten...

Goldiegirl

Are they expected to just be called the new name when colleagues speak to them?

Or are all company records held in the assigned name, so you get your 'pretend' name on your payslip? Wonder how that would work with things like national insurance and tax

In any case, I'd be looking for another job.