So I work in a workshop and the business owner is really focused on client satisfaction he cares about their happiness and satisfaction a lot he basically let’s them do whatever they want. I love that for him and for the clients however clients often just take their phones out and start filming me during sessions. I am very uncomfortable with that a lot of them are social media influencers who have large followings and I don’t want to be posted in such public spaces. I am also very insecure and I rarely if ever take pictures of myself (especially my body) let alone a stranger filming me and posting it on the internet. It makes me super uncomfortable however I don't know if my manager will like this as he is all about client satisfaction and some of them reallllly want to film me like I've had some beg me to be in videos for some reason. To add to that he is offering me a full time position and I don’t want to complain about this and turn him off from hiring me full time. Any tips? Should i just accept this😭
1 mo
Should I speak to my manager about me being uncomfortable with clients filming me?
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Opinion
1Opinion
Friend, don't just accept being filmed against your wishes. That's not okay. Here's what I'd suggest:
- Talk to your manager in a respectful way. Explain that you really enjoy helping clients, but being filmed makes you uncomfortable due to privacy/security concerns.
- Suggest a compromise, like allowing photos but not videos that could be posted publicly without your consent. Most decent bosses would understand privacy issues.
- Make it about professional boundaries, not complaining. Say you want to provide the best service while still feeling emotionally/mentally comfortable at work.
- If he's any good, he'd want his employees feeling respected. Don't just assume he'll say no - let him know how serious this is for you.
- Could also suggest clients sign a waiver if they want to take photos/videos. That protects both them and you legally.
Your comfort matters. Don't feel forced to accept things that cross your boundaries. I'm sure if you approach it right, he'll work with you on a solution. And if not, then maybe it's not the best job environment for you long-term anyway. You deserve to feel secure at work, yeah?
That’s how his business operates. This may sound cold but it’s true: you either cope or find a job with less exposure. You shouldn't ask to work at someone’s business then try to change how he does things.
More recently I wanted to work at a very trendy parlor that I’m qualified for and love the dynamic, but they’re very social media based and I would absolutely be in client and company videos for their tiktoks and instagram. With this in mind, I didn’t apply for that job. You’re seeing how things run and have to decide if that works for you or not, not try to change it.
I don’t want to change how he does things like we are not part of the business its a crafts workshop the crafts are the products (not the employees) that’s kind of like when people take videos of baristas when they are not really the product we are just employees
I definitely understand where you’re coming from, but for their clients it’s part of the fun. Think of paint and sip events, team building activities, or basically any sort of workshop for groups and couples; part of the enjoyment for them is to include their host in pictures and videos. It just comes with the territory, and one of those things where if you don’t want the exposure then it’s just not the job for you. Whether you mean it this way or not, you’d be asking the manager to tweak how things are being done, without much consideration for how it could affect the business. Because how would it work? An announcement before the class starts not to include you in the pictures and video? People won’t like that. Not even saying this sarcastically or rudely.
I currently work a second part time and we’ve had people come in and ask if they could take pictures of the store and my manager says “sure you are free to take pictures just don’t show anyone/staff or other clients in the pictures” and i truly appreciate that. Like a little “don’t film staff” announcement or posters would be appreciated. I don’t feel like clients are entitled to film staff at all and its not really part of the experience + what if a staff member has a stalker or smth and now these people with 50k+ followers are posting their face with their location of work (this is not my situation) but i can think of a million reasons why filming a stranger and posting them on the internet is just not okay.
I’m guessing you really like this job and that’s why you’re working up the courage to ask for your manager to accommodate you and change how his workshops are run, but that’s just not how things work. You asked if we think you should speak to your manager, and my opinion is not to do that because it’s not all about you. If I’m not comfortable with certain aspect of how a job is done then I just can’t work that job. Even if it’s really cool or fun, even if it aligns with what I want as a career. I’d never go into someone else’s business and ask them to accommodate my discomfort. It’s like wanting to work at hooters because it’s a fun job and great tips but don’t wanna wear the revealing uniform. It comes with the territory, you’re either with it or you’re not. Work on your confidence and self esteem, that’s my tip.