Gobsmacked

[Nixmini]

www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/aussie-company-salesforce-offers-transgender-staff-extra-paid-leave/ar-AAQKpCc?ocid=entnewsntp

The article refers to other employee support packages which seem generous but still!

If I worked there, what would stop me from claiming to identify as male to get a month off and $500 for new clothes, then changing my mind later on?

Women should have extra time off to compensate for the extra time and money needed to adhere to the patriarchal physical standards of being a woman, surely?

Is this really profitable? I know transwomen and tech etc but is this actually good for employee morale overall?

Would love to know the business logic behind this.

Starbucks in the US pays all transition costs for their employees and the business logic behind that also seems strange. I guess for Starbucks the PR boost offsets the cost?

I’d be reassured to find out this is all about profits instead of ideological commitment.

Seems reasonable. I wonder how many staff this will actually entail and of there are any conditions attached - such as how long you have to have worked there and if you have to work for so long afterwards. (A bit like with additional maternity pay)

It would be good if other medical conditions had a similar policy.

Salesforce is not an Aussie company and they are big enough that EVERYBODY who might report on them should know that . Headline aside it is a global benefit so I don’t know why the reporting says for aust and nz.
I saw this in the afr this week and I did think it through. I don’t think I object to the surgery costs, that is specific to trans people and they can offer targeted benefits like that to employee groups if they want. I do wonder re the legal and clothes costs- it’s pretty relevant as it’s not like pregnant mums don’t need some new clothes during maternity and babies do generate admin and legal costs. However you’d have to see salesforces parental leave, I’m sure it’s generous and quite possibly clearly generous enough that pregnant women get equivalent support to buy clothes etc. I know many here will think it’s totally not ok but I have no issue with supporting adults to transition, I’d much rather them getting surgery and committing to the cause as it were rather than being exactly the same as yesterday but suddenly oh I’m a woman now! And would rather focus on where women’s rights are impacted and children’s safety.

It’s an interesting ethical topic. How far should an employer be involved and invested in their employees lives.

Does this open the door to an employer having a say on what you do with your body? Do you have to schedule surgery for a time that suits your employer? Does this open the door for other employees to demand their employer funds their lifesaving medical care?

I know of companies that are debating paying for egg freezing and ivf. Does that mean that they have the right to interfere in when these benefits are to be used? Will it follow later that they pay surrogacy costs?

It feels like quite a minefield.

Can't read the whole article but seems to be for surgery.

That seems fair to me.

I think it’s legally probably not a minefield at all. These are all extras well above the legal requirements and unless they are discriminatory are fine. An employer can offer them if they wish but there is no entitlement. You could say the same arguments you have put there about maternity leave really.

Wow - a company that so strongly believes trans bodies are wrong and should be changed that it is paying for people to do that.

Imagine if this was skin lightening or something.

@MonsignorMirth offering maternity leave or a car lease does not mean a company thinks every employee should have a baby or use a car. It’s recognising this means something to some employees and offering the option.

Employees having surgery should be supported. And that's it really.

@CheeseMmmm

Employees having surgery should be supported. And that's it really.

How far should that support go? Is it right that it is only for a very select niche issue? Should there be other policies to cover more?

IVF? Breast reduction? Other non essential surgery? Drug and alcohol recovery services?

I imagine it is one of those "aren't we nice to offer this, but in reality we know it will cost very little" things. It doesn't really involve them putting their hands in their pockets that much like other things would.

Maybe there will be a side effect - trans people working there will have to justify why they aren’t having surgery since it’s free AND they get paid time off. We all know not all trans people want surgery and we all know it’s not the risks that are why some of those choose not to…

So….women can have dicks and beards etc but also surgery is necessary and not just cosmetic?! Make it make sense. How can they have it both ways?

@CheeseMmmm

Employees having surgery should be supported. And that's it really.

And that includes cosmetic elective surgery? Then why not offer it to everyone?

This is about time off work isn't it? Unless I missed something. Not paying for it?

Yes I would expect an employer to support that and if they want to do full pay for absence due to surgery then that's up to them.

Unless they are less generous for other surgery then that's a different matter.

Oh sorry! Just reread.

It's up to the employer it's their money.

Big companies that want v specialised offer all sorts to attract staff and keep them.

As long as they are as good on other cosmetic surgery, mat leave, MH support, Meno etc etc then I mean that's fine by me.

And as hardly anyone has genital surgery they know it won't cost much but looks really good for them. (The surgery that's v v major expensive and must be awful recovery).

Just looked mat 26 weeks full pay! Not sure what average is in aus or laws etc but that sounds generous to me!

7 days each year to do voluntary work that's cool

Big cost to them over large amount of employees.

I can't get worked up about this tbh.