M&S diversity officers give staff pronoun badges……. a step too far?

Not just any madness, M&S madness!

Is this really necessary? A pronoun is only needed if speaking about the staff member to a third party. What’s the point of knowing the preferred pronoun of the assistant I ask where an item is, or if they have it in my size for instance?

Aveline ?

Oh, Lord.
Seems that so many businesses are pathetically desperate to be seen as woker than woke.

In any case, who addresses anyone - in person - with a pronoun? ‘Er, excuse me, he/she, where is the customer collection point?’
If anything is needed, what would be wrong with a simple name badge?

Yes this is a step too far. I wonder how the majority of the staff feel about this.

This is just stoking a fictitious culture war. Articles like this are designed to stoke outrage/dismay/fear. It’s a distraction from real issues. Ignore it.

My son works for a publishing house, where it's suggested, possibly encouraged, members of staff use pronouns, however, as it's still up to the individual, he doesn't.

But AugustDay, the staff who have to wear these badges can’t ignore it, if they have no choice as to whether they wear them or not.

Very silly.
M & should concentrate on their failing business, although it is probably too late. My local branch is closing after Christmas, having been deliberately run down for the past year, and the nearest branch is 37 miles away.

Totally batshit I managed to survive several stints with M&S with just my name on my badge

Aveline ?????

Aveline ?

I don't think I ever refer to staff (or colleagues as some supermarkets call their staff) by their name or a pronoun.

Besides which, if the badge is pinned to the chest area, it seems very rude to peer at their chest/breast to find out their name or preferred pronoun, especially as I am rather short-sighted.

I only want to be told where the beans are... I am not interested in the the staff members life choices....

So what if staff have to wear a badge that says their pronouns? Does that really affect them? Is it an issue in the big scheme of things? I’m not non-binary, but I bet most people who identify as non-binary would see this as a fairly trivial gesture. Stoking culture wars like this trivialises real issues non-binary people are likely to face, such as poorer access to healthcare, mental health issues, violence and discrimination.

I received an email the other day where under his name the writer had put “my pronouns are he him and his.” I’m not making it up!

I've received emails and letters like that too. It doesn't impress me much about the senders.

It’s a distraction from real issues. Ignore it.

It is a real issue. Please don't ignore it.

They can’t be forced to share their pronouns if if makes them feel uncomfortable. I did have a great link regarding this but goodness knows where it is now.

Here it is:

sex-matters.org/posts/updates/pronouns/

Please dont tell me what I should think is important August, I find that quite controlling.

AugustDay

So what if staff have to wear a badge that says their pronouns? Does that really affect them? Is it an issue in the big scheme of things? I’m not non-binary, but I bet most people who identify as non-binary would see this as a fairly trivial gesture. Stoking culture wars like this trivialises real issues non-binary people are likely to face, such as poorer access to healthcare, mental health issues, violence and discrimination.

This has nothing to do with feeling “non-binary” at all and, just for the record, “non-binary” people have exactly the same access to healthcare etc as everyone else.

This is part of the erosion of women's rights - apparently anyone can say they're a women if that's how they feel. This is a logical step for M&S (to score more Stonewall points) as they have already made the changing rooms in their stores to “unisex”, which means there are no longer safe places for women and girls.

The only people who need pronoun badges are those who have changed theirs from the obvious ones, which is a tiny minority of people. If they need a badge so that others don't call them the wrong thing then they should have them but everyone else doesn't need one.

If enough M&S workers refuse to wear these badges, the company will have to have a rethink.

Excuse me could you please tell me where the knickers are. Thank you. No name required..

Is it April 1st??? So if they are bigender they will have several badges. the mind boggles! ?