Transitioning to Best Practise

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Conference
2016 National LGBT Conference
Date
11 July 2016
Decision
Carried as Amended

Conference notes the added pressures placed on people transitioning at work.

Thanks to the rising amount of positive representation of trans people in the media, public acceptance of Trans issues are increasing.

However the workplace can still be a ‘wild west’ for people transitioning at work, some progressive workplaces have a Trans policy and support their staff through this often challenging time, however some workplaces can have a hostile attitude towards their workers’ transition at work.

This contributes to the unacceptable levels of mental health issues trans people face.

UNISON’s publication ‘Gender identity- An introductory guide for trade union reps supporting trans members’ cements UNISONS position- to fight for equal rights in the workplace for trans members. Some employers do not differentiate between time off for transitioning related matters (counselling, medical interventions) and sickness absence; this is impacting on our trans members’ absence rates and exposes them to further unfair treatment at work.

Conference calls the on the national LGBT committee to:

1. Develop materials for workplace bargaining on transitioning in the workplace;

2. Encourage LGBT SOG activists to help members if they are having issues at work around transitioning.