Financial services company Allianz Holdings has launched a new ‘Transitioning at Work Policy,’ to be implemented across its UK business and offer “practical guidance, clarification, and education” on supporting employees who are going through the process.
The policy will cover important topics such as name changes and official records, time off for transitioning to attend appointments, treatment and surgery, dress codes, pronoun guidance, and recruitment procedures.
Forming part of the firm’s “ongoing commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture,” the new policy will include “information on the legal context and protections that relate to transgender employees and key considerations and responsibilities for employees and line managers.”
The new policy was created by the firm’s HR and D&I team in collaboration with LGBT+ employee resource groups (ERGs) – the Allianz UK and LV= General Insurance (LV= GI) Pride Networks – with support from UK LGBT+ organisation, Stonewall.
The policy will sit as part of Allianz’s Diversity and Inclusion Standard, which “informs the culture of the business.” The standard reflects “how employees should conduct and express themselves to create an environment in which everyone is respected, valued, and able to bring their true self to work.”
Stephanie Smith, Allianz Holdings Chief Operating Officer and Sponsor of the Allianz Global Pride Network, commented: “We’ve always done our best to foster an environment and create a workplace where everyone can thrive, but we felt it was important to bring in this new policy to explicitly demonstrate our support for our trans colleagues.
“The policy provides clarity for everyone, not only on practical HR matters but also how we can all help create a safe and inclusive environment. A nationwide survey by Stonewall revealed that 51% of trans people have either hidden or disguised their identity at work for fear of discrimination, and we don’t want any of our employees to feel that way.”
Mike Crane, D&I Executive Sponsor, Managing Director LV= GI Broker, and CEO L&G General Insurance, added: “This launch marks another key milestone in our D&I journey, and supports our ongoing ambition to celebrate the diversity of our people and ensure that we all feel empowered to express ourselves authentically at work.
“As an employer, we need to ensure that our trans colleagues are able to enjoy an employee experience where they feel validated, accepted, respected, and supported. We hope this significant step will help us ensure our workforce is fully diverse and reflects the communities and customers we serve.”
Scarlet Marie Morgan, Governance Administrator and Co-lead of the Allianz UK Pride Network, said: “I knew I worked for an inclusive company, and the support I received when I began my transition was incredible. However, there was no formal policy at that time, so to be part of its creation and execution is something I’m very proud of.
“It’s so important for people to have something to refer to when it comes to transgender individuals; each transitioning journey is different, but the guidance this transitioning policy provides will help other transgender people feel brave to come out in the knowledge they are going to be supported in their life and career at Allianz.”
