ANZ has announced it will be paid for six weeks sex confirmation leave for transgender and gender-diverse employees.
The major bank’s gender affirmation leave has been introduced to support employees undergoing ‘every aspect’ of gender affirmation, be it social, medical or legal.
In addition to the six weeks of paid leave, it also includes twelve weeks of unpaid leave and is added to the normal leave entitlements granted to employees.
ANZ is the newest Australian company and the second of the four major banks to grant paid gender confirmation leave to staff after Westpac introduced four weeks of paid leave for trans and gender diverse employees in 2019.
ANZ has announced that it will provide six weeks of paid gender confirmation leave for transgender and gender-diverse employees. (Pictured: ANZ HQ)
Major bank’s gender affirmation leave has been introduced to support employees undergoing ‘every aspect’ of gender affirmation, be it social, medical or legal
The news of ANZ’s gender confirmation leave was announced on Monday in a media statement from the major bank.
ANZ’s Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Fiona MacDonald, said: “This is another example of ANZ’s continued commitment to the LGBTIQ+ community and creating an inclusive culture where our people feel included and to be an authentic self.’
“The six weeks of paid leave means people who confirm their gender don’t have to use up their annual or sick leave entitlements, while also easing some of the financial pressure.
“This is especially important because research shows that trans and gender diverse people are more likely to have lower incomes and lower employment rates,” she added.
The bank then broke down the different ways a person can “confirm their gender” through social, legal or medical means.
They described social affirmation as changing pronouns, changing one’s name, or “taking on the dress and style of presentation that better match their gender identity and expression.”
Medical confirmation includes gender transition surgery, hormone therapy, recovery from procedures, or medical appointments to discuss surgery or therapy.
Finally, legal confirmation means that your name is legally changed or that your name and gender on your ID and personal documents are changed.
ANZ’s gender confirmation leave provides six weeks of paid leave, twelve weeks of unpaid leave and is added to the normal leave entitlements granted to employees
ANZ is second of four major banks to grant gender confirmation leave to staff after Westpac introduced four weeks of paid leave in 2019 for trans and gender diverse employees
The move has been welcomed by trans rights groups. Others weren’t so happy, believing it gives special treatment to trans and gender diverse workers over others
The move has been welcomed by trans rights groups, with LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Australia saying: The Daily Telegraph that ANZ should be ‘praised’.
Others weren’t so happy, assuming that the right to leave gives special treatment to trans and gender diverse workers over others.
Stassja Frei, a spokesperson for the Coalition for Biological Reality, told the publication that ANZ’s gender confirmation leave is “incredibly irresponsible” and “no equality.”
ANZ is the last company to offer gender confirmation leave after both Allianz and Coles introduced some form of leave earlier this year.
Coles has provided up to 10 days of paid gender confirmation leave for trans and gender diverse staff.
The supermarket chain announced the move last month, the day after International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia.
‘We know we have at least 900 team members who identify as’ transgender or gender diverse,” Coles Chief Legal and Safety Officer and chairman of the company’s Pride Steering Committee, David Brewster, said in a statement.
Trans and gender diverse employees of supermarket chain Coles are entitled to up to 10 days of paid gender confirmation leave
‘We need good policies and education in this area, so that there is clear guidance on leave for this important transition in their lives.’
A Coles spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail Australia gender affirmation that “could be any process a team member goes through to affirm/affirm their gender identity”.
‘This can be in the form of social confirmation, medical confirmation or legal confirmation.
“This may include attending medical or specialist appointments, legal appointments, attending counseling services, attending services to support their mental health and well-being, undergoing hormone therapy or medical-surgical processes.”
The paid leave is for part-time and full-time employees, while casual team members have access to unpaid gender confirmation leave.
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