Research Paper: Supporting Trans Employees in the Workplace

The need for better inclusion of trans or intersex employees and jobseekers in the workplace has gradually become more prominent in recent years. The persistent transphobia, negative treatment and aggression which many trans or intersex individuals experience in or while searching for work is widely reported. However, there has been very little research conducted into the experiences of trans or intersex staff in the UK, the implications for the workplace and, in particular for managers and employees.

When commissioning the research on which this report is based, Acas was keen to gain insight from recent UK literature and guidance as well as hear first-hand experiences from stakeholders, trans or intersex employees and employers who are recognised as exhibiting ‘good practice’. A small number of interviews and employer-level case studies were conducted to obtain this data.

This report explores how gender identity is managed in UK workplaces and how it could be improved by exploring the legislation (the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010), most major function HR areas and other key themes that arose during the research. However, the research was unable to capture sufficient evidence on intersex labour market experiences due to a pervasive lack of awareness and some confusion in public understanding of how trans and intersex issues differ. Future research focussed here would be a welcome addition to the evidence base as intersex issues and needs can be very different to trans issues.