Reckitt: creating a welcome environment for trans employees

Anthony, Consumer Safety Associate at Reckitt, spoke to myGwork about his story as a trans graduate, his experience transitioning during university, and the support he found in Reckitt's employee resource group.

Hello! My name is Anthony, and I am a Consumer Safety Associate at Reckitt, working on and supporting the development of OTC medicines and personal care products which are marketed worldwide. I just recently (September 2024) graduated from the University of Lincoln with my MChem in Chemistry for Drug Discovery and Development.

When in university, were you out to your university friends and/or your teachers? If yes, how important was that for you?

University is a very formative and eye-opening experience for everyone, and this was absolutely true for me - my social transition happened entirely within my university years. I was already out as bisexual before uni, and thanks to the peers I found through identifying publicly as a queer person, I found the people who helped me realise that I was transgender and that it was okay for me to be transgender. I also was managing to navigate all the of the systems and hoops you have to jump through in order to get all the documentation right and in place. It was a very busy four years!

With regards to lecturers, I can't stress enough how much I wouldn't have been able to do the things I needed to do to transition without the help of my university tutor. He helped me get my first ID in my correct name, which was really important to me as a student when I wanted to go out and do things with my friends without being misgendered and deadnamed by my own driver's licence. He sent me in the right direction in terms of where to find the right pages to find the right forms to change my name with the university, which helped for a load of other different name changes with different institutions (like banks and the Passport office). I wouldn't be in the same position in my transition now if it hadn't been for his willingness to help.

Are you out in your new job? If yes, was that the case from the start?

I am out at my job. I have been part of the lead team for the LGBTQ+ ERG at Reckitt for a few months now as the UK and Ireland Trans and Non-Binary representative, and it's been a great way to be able to give back to the community, as well as meet people - I am not local to where I work now, which made it difficult to make new friends. It was the case from the start, as I felt comfortable enough in the environment to share. I don't think I would have stayed on after my year in industry if the community and culture at work had not been so open and welcoming to me.

Are you excited to switch from a student to a professional? Has your organization made it easy for you?

I have already made the switch from student to professional! It was an interesting transition for sure but was absolutely smoother than it could have been. I've also moved about a hundred and fifty miles away from my family to start this job, which was definitely daunting, but the process was made better by the people I had around me at work. A number of them offered furniture they had lying around, which was a really lovely surprise actually. It's all been a part of them bringing me into their community, which has been a good experience so far.

I’m really glad to be working at a company like Reckitt where I feel comfortable enough to be out while I’m taking these formative steps in my career.