Combatting HR policy on gender in the civil service

[ellkell77]

I work in the civil service - we were recently informed that an organisation called a:gender (civil service specific I think) is advising our HR department and on their advice various changes will be implemented. No details were given, apart from the ability to specify “gender” on our personal details (don’t know whether this will be supplementary to, or will replace “sex”). I’m basically furious, particularly that this seems to be done with no consultation and especially in an organisation that bangs on both about being evidence based and the importance of sex-disaggregated data. It’s all part of a big ongoing “diversity and inclusion” drive (which I otherwise fully support). Anyway, my question is: which organisation / evidence can i refer my HR department to, who present the other side of the argument (i.e. women are adult female humans, women’s rights are being eroded, gender identity is based on repressive social stereotypes) well, in a calm, convincing way? I’m keen to avoid ranty emails from me that could easily be dismissed as an individual soap box.

Good luck. In my part of the civil service there's a standard section on job applications about how they'll accommodate you if you're transitioning during interview periods and need to reschedule for medical appointments. Nothing if you're having chemo or any other medical or surgical issues.

This is the end game, gender replaces sex, feelings replaces fact.

Men get access to anywhere they want and women and girls are taught they can't say no to men and boys. Girls and women are no longer allowed anything unless men are also included 'cos they might feel sad.

Hi OP - I have no suggestions. I find the whole thing very depressing.

Would be very interested to hear how you get on.

which organisation / evidence can i refer my HR department to, who present the other side of the argument (i.e. women are adult female humans, women’s rights are being eroded, gender identity is based on repressive social stereotypes) well, in a calm, convincing way?
How about Transgender trend or a Womans place ?

I PMed you OP

www.sexmatters.org.uk

Fair Play for Women and Girls - fairplayforwomen.com/ - have relevant resources covering several key topics in this debate.

OP, I wish you all the best in getting your views across.

This has already happened in my dept. Diversity declarations now ask for gender and if different from that ‘assigned’ at birth.

I asked our directorate HR business partner for the rationale behind the change and was met with a puzzled look. He was also confused when I explained that he regularly conflated sex and gender and promised to take it away.

In my part of the civil service there's a standard section on job applications about how they'll accommodate you if you're transitioning during interview periods and need to reschedule for medical appointments. Nothing if you're having chemo or any other medical or surgical issues.

FFS!

And I'll bet they'd be anything but helpful and accommodating if a woman was pregnant during an interview. Does it mention anything about accommodations made for disabilities? Please tell me it does

And I'll bet they'd be anything but helpful and accommodating if a woman was pregnant during an interview.

Instead, they get "Female" employees so tick the "Female" box, who are never, ever, ever going to actually become pregnant and actually give birth, and inconvenience the system.

I think the Sages fact sheet here sages.org.uk/publications/sages-factsheet.html might be the most concise, all in one place thing to use. I’ll let you know how I get on. HMIT did your HR actually change anything after you spoke to them? LaMonter, that is truly mental - I think they’ll just write whatever comes into their heads if it seems right on.

No details were given, apart from the ability to specify “gender” on our personal details (don’t know whether this will be supplementary to, or will replace “sex”). I’m basically furious,...

So you don't know what the details are apart from allowing some people to express how they feel wrt their maleness or femaleness, but it makes you very angry.

Can you explain why you think you've been harmed? Does you HR dept ask your opinion about policy generally?

My experience is that hr depts follow government guidelines and employment law (on a good day...). Work isn't a club where everyone gets to draw up the membership rules and pick who can join. Just do your job, and respect everyone else, regardless of whether they are just like you; that's what you're there for .