Everyone has a right to, and deserves, equal respect and support – and we endeavour to ensure all staff receive this within our workplace.
We’re aware of the issues that affect transsexual, intersex and transgender men and women through the work of groups such as a:gender. And we work with these groups to identify and help address these issues.
a:gender
a:gender is the support network for staff who have changed, or need to change permanently, their perceived gender. It provides guidelines on best practice to ensure that transsexual and transgender employees have the same rights and working conditions as every other civil servant. For example, it has produced guidance for the Home Office about the workplace and gender reassignment.
Monitoring gender identity
The Civil Service does not centrally monitor gender identity. Some departments do undertake individual monitoring.
You can find more information about monitoring gender identity by reading a series of recommendations that have been put together by a:gender.
Downloads
What you can do
Be aware:
- Consider what someone who is known to be a transsexual may have to contend with at work every day – being aware of diversity is very different to making people aware of their difference.
- Transsexuals within your team seek acceptance as colleagues, workmates, team members, or friends – not as transgender employees.
- The person next to you at work may be transsexual. They may not choose to make others aware, and may be detectable as such.
Be considerate:
- If you find out someone in your team is transsexual, always show them respect and make sure you keep the information confidential. It is up to them, not you, to decide when other people should know.
- Consideration and respect applies equally to customers as it does to colleagues.
Further Information
If you would like to talk about your own gender identity, or learn about the issues surrounding this area of diversity, you can:
- speak to your department’s diversity and equality team
- contact the a:gender network.
Find out more about a:gender, and how they can help you.
For further guidance about gender identity and customers, please contact the gender identity groups listed on the Useful links page.
What you can do
Be aware:
- Try and think about what someone who is known to be transsexual may have to contend with every day – being aware of diversity is very different to making people aware of their difference.
- Transsexuals within your team seek acceptance as colleagues, workmates, team members, managers or friends – not as transgender employees.
- The person next to you at work may be transsexual. They may not choose to make others aware, and may be undetectable as such.
Be considerate:
- If you find out someone in your team is transsexual, you should always show them respect and make sure you keep the information confidential. It is up to them, not you, to decide when other people should know.
- Consideration and respect applies equally to customers and to colleagues.
Further Information
If you would like to talk about your own gender identity, or learn about the issues surrounding this area of diversity, you can:
- refer to the useful resources section in this section
- speak to your department’s diversity and equality team
- contact the a:gender network.
For more information about how a:gender can help you, a:gender.
For further guidance about gender identity and customers, please contact the gender identity groups listed under Useful links.