So, changes afoot at work. Amongst other things the client is requesting that we we put full names on all email communications with customers. Given the appreciable number of emails we get from people who appear to be on day release from mental institutions, I (and a number of other people) are not entirely happy about this change. Anyone know if there's any legal argument that can be made to stop this being compulsory should a simple request not sufficient?

Basically (through no actions of my own) there's rather more of my personal information knocking about on the web than I'd like.

Tell "the client" it's against your company policy - so apologetically decline the request.

That said, it's hardly a big thing - your full name, however unique, is hardly the magical key to all of your bank accounts and genetic sequencing.

No, but it's not hard to establish that where I work is based in Exeter, and I'm certainly the only person with my name in Exeter. TBH, it's less about me, I'll happily deal with most things; it's more the fact that the Wench and my 7 week old son are home alone during the day.

Unfortunately, the company have agreed with the client, so saying it's against company policy unfortunately doesn't really work.

hmm.. If you wanted to push it, you could claim that your full name is identifiable personal information according to the DPA and therefore you're not required to disclose it to anyone and neither are they allowed to disclose it to a third party without your permission. I don't know if that would actually stand up in court but it might be enough to get them to rethink.

The fact is if you know someone's full name and you have a telephone directory you can find out where they live. Your job shouldn't require you to be ex-directory.

I would suggest using a stage name at work. Something along the lines of Biggus Dickus or Ivor Biggun.

I'd go with this. Stupid example, but for several months as a BT employee I was "Brad" with a Yank accent, just for gags. My manager heard me once and thought I was an idiot but didn't object as I was continually over target.

You're good at your job, just make up a name. Shouldn't be a problem.

This is quite common, especially for customer support roles were a certain amount of abuse is expected. Most of our Indian call centre customers have English names like "Bob", and even the UK ones only ever give a first name which is usually totally made up... in alphabetical order of joining, so one poor chap ended up being called Quinton despite having a perfectly normal name in real life

poor sod

I always thought that was a very odd practice though. if I get someone who is obviously of Indian extraction by accent phoning me up and saying 'Hi, my name is Steve' what am I supposed to think? The first thing, the very first thing he's just told me is patently a lie. Why the should I trust a single word he says afterwards? Apart from the insinuation that I won't listen to him unless I think he's somehow like me, which I find rather insulting.

I don't give a crap what his name is, to put it bluntly. Even if he's crap at his job, I'm not going to trek over to Chennai and hunt him down. I'm just going to find another company to use. What exact harm does me knowing his actual first name cause?

Have a bit of respect for me and yourself, use your proper name.

There's a world of difference between this and Jon's position, whereas by the sound of there's some chance that giving out his full name could put him in jeopardy.

Jon

You know how when you get a call from a Mumbai call centre, and the chap introduces himself as 'Steve' or 'Brian' or 'Keith'?
You should find the most Indian name possible and use that.

^^^Reminds me of a sketch from Goodness Gracious Me, where a caucasian is transferred to India and they have trouble with pronouncing his name "Jonathan"!

More seriously, could you not ask your boss about the security implications?

That would never, ever, ever get to court. So they can't force you, and they can't sack you for something like that, so tell them to jog on, or adopt a pseudonym.

Deirdre

^^^
That's not as good as the one where they all go out on a Friday night for "An English".

The idea did come up that if the client is going to be absolutely adamant that we use our real names that a judicious use of a deed poll to change one's name to something like [LIFTED] [LIFTED] should work quite well for making the idea look silly.

Be "adamant" right back at them.