-
60% have experienced some form of transphobic discrimination in the workplace.
- 38% from colleagues
- 25% from management
- 29% during a job interview
- 53% have felt the need to hide their trans status from colleagues.
- 51% believe in the workplace, acceptance and understanding of trans employees has improved due to increased media focus on trans issues.
- 50% received positive reactions from colleagues when they transitioned.
- 43% actively look for companies with trans-friendly policies when applying for jobs.
For International Transgender Day of Visibility, totaljobs surveyed trans workers from different industries across the UK. Totaljobs’ survey reveals that the majority (60%) of trans employees have experienced discrimination during their career.
Transphobic discrimination was most likely to come from colleagues (38%), and then from management (25%). This has led to more than one third (36%) of trans people leaving a job because the environment was unwelcoming. More than one quarter (29%) have faced discrimination as early as the interview stage.
Rebecca Root, actress and voice teacher who works on vocal adaptation with trans clients, said: “Even with the advances made in recent years in changing societal perceptions of the trans community, these figures clearly indicate there is still a way to go in diminishing transphobia in the workplace.
“The quest for making such spaces safe for trans people must continue.”
Discrimination in the workplace has been compounded by a lack of support from employers. More than a fifth (21%) of employees said that there was no provision for trans people at their workplace, and 24% had received no support or guidance from their HR departments when transitioning.
Fox Fisher, filmmaker and trans activist, said: “Staying in or seeking employment can be a potential nightmare when you’re trans. Many employers are unaware of our rights and we are often at a vulnerable stage of our transition. The irony is that so many trans people I know are extremely clever and willing to work.
“I was lucky that my employer was very supportive, although there was an adjustment phase which was difficult for everyone, including my new name, pronouns and getting used to my changes.”
More than half (53%) of trans people have felt the need to hide their trans status from colleagues at some point during their careers. Many stated that a lack of understanding from employers has made it difficult to reveal their gender identity at work.
Emily Brothers, a Labour politician, said: “Too often the focus is on our transition, not how tough it is to get on with our lives with high levels of discrimination, not least in the labour market.
“Much needs to be done to better apply equality legislation and develop guidance and training for managers and their businesses. Gender identity is the new frontier of equality, which means many people still don’t understand or accept us.”
With 50% of trans people reporting positive reactions to their transition, there is some evidence to suggest that the UK workplace is becoming more accepting of trans issues. However, current legislation, such as the 2010 Equality Act, needs to go further in supporting both employers and employees.
Miss Brothers added: “There is a lot of support out there. I certainly found transitioning at work some years ago less daunting than I feared, even though it was undoubtedly a very challenging experience.
“More needs to be done to (assist) employers, especially in supporting staff going through transition. That’s why I believe that some form of Statutory Leave would be supportive to trans people, helping them to retain their jobs and through a smoother transition pathway.”
See the full survey results in the totaljobs report:
Martin Hofschroer of totaljobs said: “We hope that the findings of this report will support greater awareness of employment issues for trans workers and enable trans people to feel that their voices have been heard.”
*trans is used as an inclusive umbrella term to describe anyone who feels that the sex assigned to them at birth incompletely describes or fails to describe them.
