Work beard

a concept where an individual, typically identifying as gay, engages in flirtatious behavior or pretends to have a romantic or sexual interest in a colleague of the opposite gender while at the workplace. This action is performed publicly with the primary intent of diverting attention from the individual's actual sexual orientation. It's a strategy used to create a facade of heterosexuality in environments where being openly gay might lead to negative consequences, such as discrimination or social ostracization.

"Since he wasn't ready to come out at work, Mike flirted with Jenna, using her as a work beard, so his colleagues would assume he was straight."