Brewer and pub operator Greene King has launched a Gender Identity Policy as part of its continued support of LGBTQ+ team members.
The policy offers support and reassurance for LGBTQ+ team members who are transitioning at work or who identify as a different identity to which they were born. Line managers will also receive guidance on how they can support team members before, during and after they transition.
To help fellow team members to understand the issues affecting the community, the policy demonstrates how they can become allies to support their LGBTQ+ colleagues. This includes the use of pronouns on email addresses and signatures. This not only shows support and respect for the gender identity of others, but is also a way to help remove assumptions around a person’s gender.
This is the latest initiative that Greene King’s award-winning LGBTQ+ employee-led inclusion group, The Village Greene, has supported the company with. It plays an integral role in influencing the design and development of the new policy, with the company consulting with and listening to members of the group throughout its creation.
“This is another step in our journey towards everyday inclusion, where we want our team members to feel welcome and comfortable to be their true authentic selves at work, and valued for their contribution, regardless of their gender identity,” said Andrew Bush, chief people and transformation officer at Greene King.
“Consulting and listening to members of The Village Greene, to properly understand the issues affecting this part of the LGBTQ+ community and to gain their insight into what the policy should include, has been invaluable. It means we now have a policy in place that can support team members as they transition at work or with their chosen gender identity.”
Alice Bowerman, co-chair of The Village Greene, said: “This new policy and the support guide for managers will help provide team members with the reassurance that Greene King is there to support them no matter what their gender identity is.
“The Village Greene will continue to ensure inclusivity is at the heart of all we do, and help educate, advocate, and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and team members.”
