Don’t like pronoun badges? Go elsewhere, says Halifax

Bank staff being allowed to display preferred gender criticised as ‘alienating’ and ‘virtue-signalling’

HALIFAX has told customers they are welcome to close their accounts if they disagree with its stance on pronoun badges for employees, following a raft of online complaints.

The bank was ridiculed on social media after it tweeted an image of one of the badges in a post which read: “Pronouns matter. #It’sapeoplething.” The photograph shows a badge with the name “Gemma” with pronouns “she/ her/hers” written beneath.

Some Twitter users took issue with the policy, but the bank was quick to shut them down, urging them to withdraw their custom if they felt upset.

Warren Richman, a critic, said: “There is no ambiguity about the name Gemma. It’s a female person’s name. In other words, it’s pathetic virtue-signalling and is seen as such by almost everyone who has responded to the initial tweet. Why are you trying to alienate people?”

Halifax said in response: “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.”

It later posted details of how customers can close their accounts.

Some customers said they would be doing just that. Gareth Roberts, a screenwriter for Doctor Who, said: “Telling their customers to bugger off if they don’t like their highly contentious political stances – that’s the Halifax!”

Juan Jeringuilla, another critic, said: “I identify as somebody who does not believe that basic facts about the world change because of Gemma’s feelings. I think her feelings should remain at home and are inappropriate to impose upon customers in her workplace. Can I be included in this ‘people thing’ ?”

A Halifax spokesman said: “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 simple solution to accidental misgendering.”

A number of employers have introduced pronouns on badges and email signatures. HSBC and Natwest already allow staff to display their preferred gender pronouns on name badges.

Introducing the policy in January, Stuart Haire, head of retail banking at HSBC UK, said: “When someone is referred to with a pronoun that doesn’t align with their identity, it can make them feel alienated and have a wider and long-lasting impact on them as a person.” Some questioned whether the Halifax policy had been enforced on staff but the bank insisted it was optional.

One user said: “Nobody cares what pronouns your staff use, but many of your staff will feel bullied into doing this. I hope you’ve given them a genuine choice over whether to do this.”

A spokesman for Halifax said: “Adding pronouns is completely optional. We’re offering our colleagues the choice because we understand how important it is to create a safe and accepting environment that normalises the conversation around gender identity.”

LGBT charities praised the bank for making the change.

Stonewall said: “It’s great to see workplaces like Halifax bank 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.”