Creating Trans Inclusive Workplaces: Global Guidance

Many large organizations recognize the benefits of having a workplace that welcomes diverse staff, but grapple to meet the needs of marginalized groups, like trans people. Here are a few guides from around the world to support HR/diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) professionals to create trans inclusive workplaces and policies.

Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace: A Toolkit for Employers (Global/General)

When people go through a gender transition while on-the-job, the whole work team transitions with them. This guide from HRC allows DEI/HR professionals to hear transgender employees and professionals highlight the challenges and solutions to help make workplaces more transgender inclusive. The HRC Foundation’s 'Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace: A Toolkit for Employers' provides practical guidance in creating a more inclusive workplace for transgender and gender non-conforming employees. This source has a really useful checklist when reviewing your company’s policies and procedures, as well as some draft “Gender Transition Guidelines” which might be helpful when drafting your own policies. You can access the guide here. HRC has also published a guide for individuals transitioning, to help them navigate aspects of their transition related to the workplace. You can access Transitioning in the Workplace: A Guide for Trans Employees here.

myGwork's Trans Inclusion Guide for Employers

This guide from mygwork brings together education and action, to help support companies in creating a welcoming environment for trans and gender non-conforming people. From the basics to more advanced information, the guide exists to provide context and understanding of trans experiences. Featuring useful details on allyship, statistics revealing the current treatment of trans employees, and what language to use and avoid. This guide is one part of the work myGwork undertakes with businesses in pushing forward LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. It will be used alongside training, workshops, e-learning modules, and more to help educate and change workplace culture for the better. Read more about the guide here.

Trans-Inclusive Workplaces: A Guide for Employers and Businesses – A Europe-wide Perspective

This publication builds on TGEU’s (Transgender Europe e.V.) previous work on anti-discrimination and human rights, providing a guide for employers and businesses on how best to support trans employees in the workplace. The guide covers what makes a trans-friendly workplace, how to support a trans person at work and how to word questionnaires to ask if someone is trans. Produced with financial support from the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union, the Open Society Foundation, and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it also provides a basic guide to what it means to be trans and the importance of providing support to trans employees. You can access the guide here.

Transgender Workplace Support Guide (UK)

This guide is a product of the Transgender Workplace Support Project in partnership by NHS Lothian Health Promotion Service and LGBT Health and Wellbeing. The need for this guide comes from a recognition that transgender employees are valuable members of staff, yet the workplace can be a daunting environment for many. A hugely beneficial factor for transgender employees is a working environment that feels safe and supportive. A point that was continuously raised by transgender employees and employers throughout this project was the importance of a good working relationship between the employee and their employer/manager and HR staff.

This guide was produced from one-to-one interviews with five transgender employees and five employers/managers; as well as consultation with professionals and members of the transgender community in Lothian, and by gathering some of the resources that are available today. It includes stories on how to make it meaningful for a person to be able to be open about who they are in the workplace, and how various pieces of legislation and policy can support this process. You can access the guide here.

Employing Transgender Workers from the US Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) – A US Perspective

This guide from SHRM focuses on workplace issues related to the employment of transgender individuals in an organization. Among the issues are those that may surface when an employee makes the transition from living as one gender to another. Transgender individuals often suffer discrimination in various aspects of their lives, including employment. This discussion sets forth reasons that employers should be knowledgeable and accommodating toward transgender workers and should tolerate no workplace discrimination against them. The guide explains HR's role in helping organizations in the US prepare for and meet their responsibilities in this area, touching on legal frameworks around the country. You can access the guide here.

Supporting Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace – from Transgender Equality Network Ireland

Employers can take positive steps toward creating an inclusive work environment where trans employees can fulfil their potential. This guide from the Transgender Equality Network in Ireland aims to provide some understanding and insight about how to develop the best business practice for your workplace to retain, support and recruit trans employees. This resource is for anyone in an organization who wants to be more informed about trans issues. It includes a glossary of trans terminology, information about transition, guidelines on recruitment and steps for creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture. People who will find this resource useful will include employers and managers, human resource personnel and staff representatives, transgender employees, colleagues and clients. You can access the guide here.

Trans @ Work – An Australian Perspective

This guide, published by The Queensland Human Rights Commission, is for trans and gender diverse employees, their employers and colleagues. This resource will assist employees and employers to navigate the challenging issues that trans or gender diverse employees sometimes face at work, particularly when they are transitioning gender in Australia. This information is general in nature so that it is widely applicable. When supporting individual employees, it is vital that employers tailor support to the individual needs of the person, and within the context of that particular workplace. The guide contains support for both transitioning employees as well as employers, as well as colleagues, as well as real life stories that everyone can learn from. Click here to access the report.

The Recruitment and Retention of Transgender Staff: Guidance for employers – A UK Perspective

This guide, produced by the UK's Government Equalities Office in partnership with Inclusive Employers, is designed to provide employers with practical advice, suggestions and ideas on the recruitment and retention of transgender employees and potential employees from an operational and strategic perspective. It also include practical advice, suggestions and ideas, based on the real nand lived trans experiences. It is a useful guide for the managers of trans staff, as well as trans staff.

The guide also aims to help employers comply with the law. By following this guidance employers will be better equipped to create a more inclusive culture for all staff. Although this guidance does not cover all the issues in as much detail as others, it includes links to a range of organizations that can provide help to employers and support to transgender employees; an action plan template for employers to complete; and an overview of the law with some useful examples. You can access the guide here.

First Steps to Trans Inclusion from Stonewall – UK and General Global advice

The leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall released a suite of guides around how HR/DEI can support trans employees in their organizations and create an inclusive environment regardless of gender identity. The six guides cover key areas for employers from how to take they first steps to ensuring trans inclusive benefits and policies. They include:

• First steps to inclusion
• Communicating commitment to trans inclusion
• Creating a transitioning at work policy
• Trans inclusive benefits and policies
• Engaging all staff in trans inclusion
• Getting it right with your trans-service users and consumers

You can access the full guides here.