When Flags Stop Feeling Friendly: A Personal Take on Staff Anxiety and the UK’s New Wave of ‘Patriotism’

Every now and then, a topic quietly starts cropping up in meetings until suddenly you realise everyone is talking about it. Recently, that topic has been flags – not the celebratory kind we see during football tournaments, but the ones appearing on bridges, lampposts and street corners in areas where anti‑immigration protests have taken place.

Across audit committees in housing, health, local government and beyond, staff have been expressing the same concern: they feel uneasy when required to work in neighbourhoods where large clusters of flags have been put up defiantly. And honestly, it’s easy to understand why.

It’s no longer ‘just flags’. Media coverage shows these displays often appearing alongside protests, street-level tension and heated debates around immigration. In those environments, staff describe feeling watched, intimidated or uncertain about how safe it is to carry out their duties.

When you break it down, their concerns are rarely political. They’re about personal safety, belonging and the general atmosphere of a place. Even if there’s no direct threat, the symbolism alone can create a sense of hostility – and that perception matters.

Sociologists have also highlighted how national symbols can unite or divide depending on context. Sometimes flags signal shared identity; other times, especially when linked to protest movements, they can feel exclusionary. Frontline staff walking into neighbourhoods pick up on these cues instantly.

So what can organisations do?
  • Encourage real‑time judgement: staff should feel empowered to walk away if an area feels unsafe
  • Review lone‑working policies: avoid sending colleagues alone into areas experiencing protest activity or symbolic tension
  • Share relevant local intelligence: keeping staff informed helps them mentally prepare and reduces uncertainty
  • Prioritise wellbeing: take concerns seriously – emotional safety is as important as physical safety
  • Raise it at leadership level: boards and committees should recognise this as a genuine operational issue, not an isolated concern.

We’re currently in a moment where national symbols, public debate and protest movements have combined in ways that directly affect staff working on the ground. Whatever our personal opinions on the politics, the lived experience of frontline colleagues is what matters most.

If your teams are experiencing similar anxiety, TIAA’s security specialists can help with site‑specific risk assessments, staff safety planning and organisational resilience approaches. Listening to the people doing the work – and responding to what they’re telling us – is more important now than ever.

Security is not just about systems – it’s about people, and how we protect them when the unthinkable happens.

TIAA’s Security Advisory Services are here to help. Our experts can guide you through the practical, ethical, and operational aspects of deploying advanced surveillance solutions, ensuring compliance, resilience, and peace of mind. Contact us today to explore tailored strategies that protect your people, assets, and reputation.

Jonathan Gladwin,  Director – Security Advisory 

Carver Tedstone, Managing Consultant Security Advisory  

To view the previous blogs in the series please visit TIAA Blogs