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Marks & Spencer Introduces Pronouns On Staff Name Badges

Marks & Spencer Introduces Pronouns On Staff Name Badges

Staff can put 'whichever combination' of pronouns they want on their name badges

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Marks & Spencer has introduced optional pronoun name badges for its workers, in a move that has been praised by staff.

M&S said the idea came from an employee and the company has said it means staff can have the choice of putting 'whichever combinations of pronouns' they want onto their name badges.

Sharing a post about the new initiative on LinkedIn, M&S said: "Recently, we introduced pronoun name badges for our colleagues, encouraging as many of them as possible to wear whichever combination of pronouns is right for them.

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"An amazing initiative provided by one of our colleagues Morgen Kane to our Suggest to Steve programme, as we continue to build an inclusive future, together."

The retailer also shared a post from M&S employee David Parke, a food PR manager, who showed off his 'He/Him/His' pronoun badge.

Alongside the photo, Parke heaped praise on his employer for the move, writing: "Giving people the option to display their pronouns at work is really important as it encourages them to show allyship towards trans and non-binary colleagues.

"Many of us already include our pronouns in our email signatures, but when you're talking to people in person it's useful to know how they want to be referred to in order to help everyone feel comfortable and avoid any misgendering.

"Right now trans people in the UK are facing more abuse and discrimination than ever before, and so it's up to all of us to create an inclusive culture and make sure everyone gets the respect they deserve.

"It's great that M&S is proactively taking these sorts of steps to support and celebrate LGBTQ+ colleagues."

The move has been praised by LGTQ+ charity Stonewall which said it was a 'simple but impactful way' to make sure peoples' identities are respected.

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Sasha Misra, associate director of communications and campaigns at Stonewall, said: "It's great to see an increasing number of businesses offering the option of badges with pronouns for staff.

"Creating an inclusive workplace starts with everyday actions, and having pronouns on badges is a simple yet impactful way to make sure LGBTQ+ identities are respected - for employees and customers alike."

Featured Image Credit: PA/David Parke

Topics: UK News, LGBTQ+, Marks and Spencer