As an HR professional, you may need to craft policies that ensure your enterprise offers equitable transgender rights in the workplace.
However, before creating transgender-inclusive policies, it’s essential to understand what it means to be a transgender individual. Transgender is an umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity does not correspond to the sex assigned at birth. Since trans individuals do not conform to society’s norms regarding gender identity and expression, they often face deep-rooted stigma and discrimination in all aspects of life, including the workplace.
Despite the increased global awareness regarding gender identities, most organizations still lack proper policies and practices that can support trans employees. HR professionals who want to create a diverse and inclusive work environment need to proactively incorporate policies that protect and promote the rights of people of all gender identities and expressions.
Here are some transgender-inclusive policies you can adopt to support trans employees:
Create gender-identity-specific anti-discrimination policies
Include gender identity as a category in all workplace non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. Don’t hesitate to take action against any form of harassment regarding one’s gender expression.
Update documentation with correct name and pronoun usage
Mandate using the right name and pronouns for all employees. Another way HR professionals can support a a trans employee is by letting them specify their gender identity in administrative records, employee directories, email addresses, and business cards.
Adopt a gender-neutral dress code
Ensure that the official dress code that does not enforce gender stereotypes. You can achieve that either through a consistent uniform or defining a policy that lets transgender employees dress in accordance with their gender identity.
Implement gender-neutral facilities
This includes granting employees access to restrooms that correspond to their gender presentation. Another alternative is to institute gender-neutral restrooms that are accessible to all employees regardless of their gender.
Support new trans employees
As an HR professional, offer resources and devise strategies to help an employee manage various work issues that can arise during the onboarding process.
Provide trans-specific diversity training
Provide awareness training to employees that specifically address gender identity and gender expression
Add necessary treatments and procedures for transitioning under employee health insurance:
Support trans employees by ensuring they have access to gender-identity-specific health care benefits.
Incorporating transgender-inclusive policies is a step in the right direction toward an organization’s long-term success. Individuals can only achieve their full potential at work if they are treated with respect and dignity. We hope our blog provided you with some guidelines on how to create a long-lasting legacy of an organization that values and is in turn valued by its employees.
For a more detailed guide to creating a workplace environment that values inclusivity and diversity, start with our Nurturing an LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Workplace course.
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