Pride Flag in Virtual Work Background?
I'll be starting my summer internship at an EB this summer. My background may have a pride flag and I'm thinking of taking it down for the summer to keep things "professional."
However, it bugs me since doing so is basically acquiescing to what I perceive as the delicate sensibilities of traditional Wall Street. Would an employee's background be considered unprofessional if it represented another piece of their identity like ethnicity?
I'm in an enormously privileged position and by willfully shielding my pride, I worry that I'm maintaining an archaic status quo at the expense of less fortunate members of the community rather than normalizing the concept of a more diverse workplace.
I know I'm overthinking it! A 10-week internship is not Stonewall, but I'd love to get a read on where the current culture of Wall Street is at.
Edit: I will be taking it down. Very fascinating contention surrounding this topic though.
Think about it this way - would you decorate your cubicle at the office with a flag? If yes, then leave the flag. If no, then remove it.
I would try to keep the workplace as professional as possible.
That makes sense. I think I would in an in-person context.
Nobody will have a problem when you have a flag in the background. I know I wouldn't. But the workplace is just that - a place where we work with others. There doesn't have to be anything else to it.
Imagine this week you'd put your flag in your background. But what if next week another colleague saw your flag and puts up a political flag in their room? Or a religious one? Or a NRA flag? Or a flag that denounces vaccines. etc.
Working at an office doesn't mean we have no free speech or rights; but we can try to make things easier for everyone.
Yeah it's kind of weird because I would actually not care about someone having an NRA (or other) flag in the background but it seems the 1st amendment holds true only in a vacuum--firms are profit-driven and they'll likely have super ad hoc and discretionary social standards about what's okay and what's not since it all comes down to PR. (firms telling an employee to take down a pride flag is potentially cancellable, yet firms telling an employee to take down a confederate flag or NRA flag or something denouncing vaccines may not be such a controversial policy -- "misinformation" and "hate" are overapplied as reasons for limiting free speech imo) It's all very confusing which is why I started this discussion.
Stop with the "oh geez golly shucks" routine; you're not confused. You're well aware of the double standard and simply love it because you're currently on the "winning" team, so you feel free to gloat. Just don't be shocked if things are much different in another generation; changes happen fast.
No one will care about a pride flag specifically and if someone does you shouldn’t work at that place. That said would recommend a semi-professional background aka not a messy bedroom.
That is totally fine to leave up. Don't overthink it. There is only one side of the political spectrum that will throw a temper tantrum and ruin your career. Pride flag is fine.
American flag or cross, I would take it down.
Kept my cross up during SA. Didn't force anything on anyone, so if a pride flag can be acceptable, I don't see why a cross wouldn't be.
I see your point about the double standard. Anyone who takes issue with it likely won't voice it because people are losing their jobs over cancellation of the smallest things. I'd personally be okay with an American flag or other things in someone's background, though anon's point makes sense too about keeping a neutral environment. I'll leave it down for now and play it by ear.
I think this a where risk vs reward is skewed towards more risk. I think taking it sown is probably the smart move
How is an American flag controversial???
I wouldn't have any decorations beyond regular art. Just like how it would be weird if I have Gadsden flag background, nobody should see your decoration that implies whatever is going on in your pants or bedroom. It's a professional environment, keep it professional.
Really depends on who big/obnoxious it is. If it's you're whole background, yeah I'd probably avoid that. If it's a flag among a bunch of other things on your bookshelf in the background, no that almost certainly wouldn't matter.
It's just a little one but definitely visible. Thanks for the more qualified point. I see how a large pride flag as my entire background may come off distracting and unprofessional. It's not always a bright-line situation so drawing these degrees is an important point I missed.
Not sure if you've seen this, but I enjoy it.
Generally, and especially for your SA, your background should be literally nothing. Plain walls and ceiling. That's it. Has nothing to do with anything else other than that is the most professional and safest option. No reason to advertise anything whether you have a framed photo of your favorite baseball player, a Trump flag, or a pride flag, just leave it out of the background. If you do leave it up, I don't think it would be an issue, but a distraction and clutter free background is the most accepted and recommended.
Yeah, I also think that's the safest option now that I'm reading more comments -- taking these responses as a sample size of wall street sentiment.
OP likes other dudes' buttholes and dicks, so logical response is to make sure everyone else in the office knows. Yea man, really bucking the trend and fighting against oppression and "the man" even though every globohomo corp out there bends over backwards to demonstrate how woke they are these days.
Jeez, op is just trying to get some feedback and has decided not to keep it up in the background.
Joking aside, I never understood why lgbtq+ people have to "show their pride." They're not being oppressed today and they can get married. Nothing wrong with being gay, but why do they have to advertise their sexual preference like this? If I had an intense sexual attraction towards dogs, for example, would it make sense if I paraded the streets with like-minded people while waving rainbow dog anus flags so the world knows about us? What about if I had an intense love for feet? Do I have to announce to the world I love that? It makes no fucking sense. It's a fucking kink. Keep this shit in the bedroom ffs.
Exactly. You never see straights parading the fact that they have a hetero spouse at work. You do you, but quit making such a big deal about the fact that you're gay or trans or whatever.
My bank would absolutely not allow this
that's interesting. I'm keeping a plain background now per advice from other comments, but I might troll HR and get a direct answer
HR is not there to help you. Their role is to protect management. Never forget that. I have an employee who flies a pride flag in their zoom calls and care zero about it. We're in healthcare though so it's somewhat different.
Seeing a lot of people saying it’s totally fine.. it’s not though, 100%. As another posted, your background should be reminiscent of your office… even though it might be a dorm room, your bedroom, or something else of that nature, try to keep it as professional as possible. I’ve heard discussions of people much higher up the totem pole stating “did you see what x had in the background”, you don’t want that to be the reason you don’t get a return offer.
yea bro my pride is not worth the cost of losing six figures so I'm going to keep it completely plain. thanks for the honesty
Err on the side of caution
Cringe thread, grow up OP
Okay prospect B)
You'd probably squeak by if you kept it up, but not worth the risk. The corporate culture on Wall Street has certainly changed since the 90s: we have affirmative action programs, women are being actively targeted for elevation to leadership roles, firms are prioritizing ESG. However, there are lots of people who detest these changes. You wouldn't want to run into one of those people while your pride flag is hanging in your background....
Eh I’d try to keep things apolitical and (perhaps more importantly) not distracting in the visual sense.
Ultimately not a big deal either way, but usually good to go with the flow / not stick out too much as a junior.
Yeah put it up there.
I personally use a wide-angle webcam to make sure my dildo collection, beads, and “Pete 2024” signage are also in frame.
If you're a junior banker and don't own a "drilldo" and lube to prep for the Friday 9pm fistings from your MDs, then you don't really DO banking. No one would even bat an eye at a drilldo in the background.
honestly as an actual member of the LGBTQ community, this post was gross to read.
Dude this is a no brainer. Your virtual background should be politically neutral. You might disagree, but LGBTetc is still a political issue in the united states and politics do not belong in the workplace. Wall Street is generally culturally conservative, so don't fuck up your internship by rubbing bankers the wrong way. You don't want to come across as someone who will come crying to HR at the drop of the hat. Don't take this to mean you can't be gay, but don't make it your main identity. You do not want to be the "gay intern," you want to be the sharp, friendly, useful intern. Ignore all of this if you're in the SF office. Come in playing Macho Man by the Village People and your MD will slap your ass and dance along with you.
I need to bump this shit so people get some context for my post.
Ok but let’s be honest here. You are basically a “useless” intern and now you’re virtual which means you’ll get even more busy work than usual.
How are you in any way making any real impact at all by showing your flag.
How about, exercise self control today so that you can one day reach a position of power and actually make difference / change culture?
The issue isn’t LGBT but rather displaying anything gauche or potentially distracting. This applies to basically everything especially as an intern. Good on you for stickiny up / trying to
Make a difference but check your naïveté and realize it makes none, and you should wait until youresenior
Itaque eligendi eius odio delectus cum. Placeat saepe omnis in et ipsum. Optio dolor porro dolorem cum quo. Accusamus quam consequatur et aliquam et. Maiores quia rerum autem illo architecto eius consequuntur ex.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Eligendi consequatur et velit est ratione porro ea. Non aspernatur quae asperiores qui vero. Natus expedita eos repellendus praesentium est magnam consequatur. Aut quae quia a nam quasi molestiae. Officiis qui id corrupti reprehenderit omnis. Voluptas nemo deserunt et et nobis natus et deserunt. Fugit qui aperiam quo velit ut.
Commodi fugit molestiae consequatur qui sit. Corrupti earum mollitia quia dolores repellendus quidem.
In quos quos magni veniam ullam ratione dicta. Repellendus totam exercitationem sequi quis. Vero alias velit mollitia. Nam sit dolores et distinctio incidunt quos minima.
Repudiandae cumque et molestias et dignissimos quia. Cum nisi dolores quibusdam explicabo. Error eos ut in et.