Transgender awareness week is a time where we share and uplift the voices and experiences of the trans community, which includes celebrating the victories of trans folk while also remembering all those who have lost their lives to anti-trans violence.
Trans employees often face distinct challenges in the workplace with recent research carried out by Stonewall highlighting that half of trans people (51%) have hidden their identity at work for fear of discrimination. Even though the Equality Act 2010 provides protection from discrimination for trans people who have undergone, are undergoing, or intend to undergo gender affirmation (described legally as gender reassignment).
Many employers will have an equality & diversity policy, but as we are in the midst of Transgender Awareness Week we are ask – are your policies truly inclusive?
Being a good employer does not start and end with a policy, but it’s good place to demonstrate that you want to be a good employer.
We are pleased that after working in conjunction with the Sandwell Councils’ LGBTQ+ Employee Network and the trans members, GMB have helped create a Trans Equality Guide and its associated Transition Support Plan which has been launched this week.
Sarah James, Branch Equality Officer said “GMB is a proud and staunch ally of trans rights, supporting trans members, condemning transphobia in the strongest terms and committing to continuing to practically support and campaign alongside the trans community.
We are proud to have worked alongside Sandwell Council and the LGBTQ+ community to develop this policy and will continue the work to ensure that trans-inclusivity is embedded within the culture of Sandwell Council”
For more information about the policy or to talk to GMB in confidence please contact Sarah James, Branch Equality officer.
What do we mean by Trans?
‘Trans’ or ‘Transgender’ is an inclusive term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.
Someone who’s identity differs from biological sex will often identify themselves as trans.
Posted: 17th November 2020