Virgin Atlantic Update Gender Indentity Policy: Official Press Release. 28/09/2022

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Virgin Atlantic announces an update to its gender identity policy and removes requirement for its people to wear gendered uniform options

The policy, effective today, champions the individuality of Virgin Atlantic’s people by enabling them to wear the clothing that expresses how they identify or present themselves. This follows previous changes including optional make up and allowing visible tattoos for crew members and its front line people
In addition to the policy, wider updates include the introduction of optional pronoun badges, ticketing system amends to allow for passport holders with gender neutral gender markers to use their gender codes and titles, mandatory inclusivity training for staff and training in destination with tourism and hotel partners

It comes as research* finds that allowing staff to embrace their individuality at work increases mental wellbeing (49%), feelings of happiness (65%) and creates a better experience for staff and customers (24%)

Virgin Atlantic has launched its updated gender identity policy, giving its crew, pilots, and ground team the option to choose which of the iconic uniforms, designed by Vivienne Westwood, best represents them – no matter their gender, gender identity, or gender expression.

Reflecting the diversity of the workforce and in a move that cements its position as the most inclusive airline in the skies, Virgin Atlantic will offer its people a fluid approach to its red and burgundy uniforms, meaning LGBTQ+ colleagues will be able to choose either the red or the burgundy uniform, depending on which best reflects themselves.

The announcement is part of an on-going drive to champion the individuality of its people and customers and is complemented by the roll out of optional pronoun badges for all its people and those travelling with the airline. This move enables everyone to clearly communicate and be addressed by their pronouns. The badges will be available to teams and customers from today and customers simply need to ask for their preferred badge at the check in desk or in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.

Virgin Atlantic has also updated its ticketing systems to allow for those who hold passports with gender neutral gender markers to select ‘U’ or ‘X’ gender codes on their booking as well as the gender-neutral title, ‘Mx’. Currently citizens from a small number of countries including the USA, India and Pakistan, are able to hold these passports and travellers must travel on the codes that match their passport. In lieu of passports with gender neutral gender markers being available for all, Virgin Atlantic is implementing a longer-term plan to amend communication preferences to ensure customers are addressed by their preferred pronouns across all touchpoints.

Mandatory inclusivity training will also be rolled out for its people at all levels across Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic Holidays as well as a series of inclusivity learning initiatives for tourism partners and hotels within destinations such as the Caribbean to ensure all our customers feel welcome despite barriers to LGBTQ+ equality.

Launched as part of its ‘Be Yourself’ agenda, the airline has already unveiled a series of industry-leading inclusivity initiatives for its people to ensure they can truly be themselves at work and feel comfortable in their roles. This latest addition follows a decision in 2019 to offer cabin crew the choice whether to wear make-up as well as the option to wear trousers and flat shoes. More recently the airline lifted restrictions around allowing visible tattoos for crew members and its front line people.

Jamie Forsstroem, Cabin Crew at Virgin Atlantic commented: “The updated gender identity policy is so important to me. As a non-binary person, it allows me to be myself at work and have the choice in what uniform I wear.”
Michelle Visage, Tanya Compas, Talulah-Eve and Tyreece Nye have teamed up with Virgin Atlantic to showcase the new policy in a stylised fashion shoot that has been released today.

Michelle Visage commented: “As the mother of a non-binary child, and as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, these efforts by Virgin Atlantic to further inclusivity for its people are extremely important and personal to me. People feel empowered when they are wearing what best represents them, and this gender identity policy allows people to embrace who they are and bring their full selves to work.”

The announcement comes as research finds that enabling employees to express their true selves at work boosts happiness (65%), increases mental wellbeing (49%), creates a more positive workplace culture (36%) and provides a better experience for customers (24%). Employees also reported feeling more accepted and comfortable when able to be their true selves at work (26%) and an increased sense of loyalty to their employer (21%).

Despite these positive benefits, 25% of Brits have felt pressure to hide their true selves at work, with 13% feeling uncomfortable making requests that enable them to express who they really are. Brits have dressed differently (30%) or in clothing they aren’t comfortable in (15%), changed the way they style their hair or makeup (22%) and covered up parts of their personality (38%) all in an attempt to fit in.

The airline’s initiatives also include an update of its existing trans inclusion policies, which already allows time off for medical treatments related to gender transition, personal choice of changing & shower facilities that align with the gender a person identifies as and co-creation of a personalised transitioning plan.

Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Commercial Officer says, “At Virgin Atlantic, we believe that everyone can take on the world, no matter who they are. That’s why it’s so important that we enable our people to embrace their individuality and be their true selves at work. It is for that reason that we want to allow our people to wear the uniform that best suits them and how they identify and ensure our customers are addressed by their preferred pronouns.”
*Data conducted by 3Gem on behalf of Virgin Atlantic between 5th - 6th September 2022, polling 2,000 adults aged 18+ across the UK.

To find out more about Virgin Atlantic’s inclusivity commitments head to virg.in/oji6 or follow the airline on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

corporate.virginatlantic.com/gb/en/media/press-releases/virgin-atlantic-updates-gender-identity-policy.html

felt pressure to hide their true selves at work, with 13% feeling uncomfortable making requests that enable them to express who they really are

WTF is a 'true self'? Anyone?

What does it mean 'who you really are'?

This hyperfocus on the self and self actualisation is not healthy.

Thank goodness. I always thought it ridiculous that women had to be ‘dolled up’ and men could wear what look to be much more comfortable outfits. Hopefully this will help stop the stereotype that women have to be glamorous and men have to be practical.

I have to hide my true self at work. I'm a gender critical radical feminist and although my views are protected in law, I work with a lot of young people who are painfully blind to the deleterious effects of their beloved ideology.

I can think of some colleagues who would be better off hiding their true selves at work. Particularly some of the more sexist ones.

I think it's great that everyone can wear the uniform they want - fewer women will be feeling uncomfortable at work.

I'm also beginning to get on board with this 'true self' stuff.

I definitely think my identity is someone who is paid 3x what I'm paid, and has to do only 50% of the work (and only the interesting bits). I cannot wait for my employer to have to affirm my true self.

I wonder how long the policy will survive female employees embracing trousers, flat shoes and no make-up.

Is this the same Virgin Atlantic that has just been advertising that (wait for it, you might want to sit down for this) it's a WOMAN flying the plane? Because, who knew, a WOMAN could be a pilot?

It comes as research* finds that allowing staff to embrace their individuality at work increases mental wellbeing (49%), feelings of happiness (65%) and creates a better experience for staff and customers (24%).

Whilst I am sure that the woodwork teacher in Canada is is 65% more likely to have sensations associated with happiness, being their " true self ". it does occour to me that whilst 24% of STAFF and customers have a better experience, I wonder about the 76 % of " customers " who are not reporting a better experience.

I'm wondering about " customers " in such envioronments as hospitals, care homes, prisons, and other areas of vunerability.

The TQ+ plus seem to be the driving force behind inclusion.

No doubt the day will come when the Canadian Woodwork Teacher is no longer newsworthy.

Perhaps there can be more acceptance for the Q and the + in the workplace and across tjhe workforce we can fijnd Dildo Wearing Monkeys, Furies and Adult Babies, perhaps enjoying a feeling of happiness in thei adult sizes nappies, whilst on the job ? Although, will their customers be having a better experience ?

Where is the boundary between a fetish (booby Canadian woodwork teacher) and gender expression?

So when their dress codes were only restricting women (high heels; excessive make up etc.) it was fine, but now men are being inconvenienced it all changes. Good to know where Virgin's priorities are

It is so irritating that all this inclusion is being driven by and is geared towards the t+ ideology.

Where was it when it was only boring disabled, non white and LGB people who were unable to bring their whole selves to work?

THIS is the whole point, since middle aged white men requested to join the party based on their " opppression ".

The Q seeks to " queer " things, and they are succeeding beyond their wildest expectations.

Big thanks to all the confused Teenage Girls mutilating themselves, the poor " I "s, and the Native American 2 Spirits, and whatever else has been added to the alphabet soup, to mask the sharp taste of the TQ+, and divert from the bubbles and yellow mist in the soup.

Is Native American 2 Spirits really being 'allowed' as a choice?
Is this not cultural appropriation? Or are Native Americans in the same STFU box as women?

Gods it's so fucking TEDIOUS now. Yet another company I shall never spend a penny on.

personal choice of changing & shower facilities that align with the gender a person identifies as and co-creation of a personalised transitioning plan.

What about all the women whose gender ID is 'wants single sex only spaces'? Does this policy in reality mean that women are discriminated against? In the UK sex is the protected characteristic, not gender.

Handy thatr, given that gender is fluid and can change by the hour, guess if anyone is feeling a bit " Izzardy " and fancies a bit of " girl mode " for the afternoon, absolutely nothing to stop them. ( and a genuine question, what happends if your gender fluids and you transition, again, back, whilst naked in the shower ... )

Most of this sounds OK. Happy for women to wear the traditional male uniform if they prefer . It doesn't verge into allowing men into women's single sex spaces ( guess there are none on a plane). In the end though they're going to have to entirely scrap uniforms if they really are 100% for everyone expressing their true identity ...... as no one identifies with wearing the same prescribed outfit each working day ....

I am a little wary of the idea that our clothes reveal or reflect "our true selves".

Maybe what we like or dislike, aesthetically, but is that really something we want to put at "authentic self" level?

Maybe it seems trivial but I suspect this way of thinking has in a passive way contributed towards a lot of people just accepting gender ideology as a real thing.

This sounds like a good idea. I would love to think all the female cabin crew will immediately ditch the heels, pencil skirts and slap in favour of trousers and comfortable flat shoes 🙂
Or is this not aimed at those sort of women 🤔

In principle, the removal of enforement of gender / sex uniforms and roles is always a good thing.

Except in the name of equality, those in the know can see what is going on.

The T1's, the S's, of course deserve equality. But it's the T2, the V's and AGPs leading this, with the T3's, the G's, of confused young women as cover.

The Q and the + are chomping on the bit on the " True Self " ticket.

In the name of " equality " eventually it's akin to organising a " bring your sexual fetish / sexual kink / paraphillia to work " day/week/month/year/lifetime.

A flasher who gets arousal from exposing himself would not be tolerated, but it seems like Canadian Woodwork Teacher, eventually the Adult Babies will be here, with a right to fill their nappies with joy.

You really don't want me to bring my true self to work. My true self is sweary and scruffy. I mean, people probably think I'm sweary and scruffy anyway but they haven't met the true me. My true self has a lot of contempt for try-hards and virtue signalling. My true self lets you know I think that about you.

25% of Brits have felt pressure to hide their true selves at work, with 13% feeling uncomfortable making requests that enable them to express who they really are. Brits have dressed differently (30%) or in clothing they aren’t comfortable in (15%), changed the way they style their hair or makeup (22%) and covered up parts of their personality (38%) all in an attempt to fit in.

These numbers make no sense. Dressing differently for work? Don't most of us do that? Then clothes you're not comfortable in... Er pretty much anyone who has to wear a uniform.
Surely the numbers should be much higher? Because this sort of stuff is simply what's expected when working for someone else.
Why does it suddenly matter when it's TQ+ people?
And, you know, how the fuck has this self entitled madness taken hold?!

My customer experience will not be enhanced if I come across someone in a service role who is performing their special gender identity to me. However, the test will be how this actually works out in practice.

Best case is no irritating performances. Less best is I use another service provider.

MorningtonCroissant top username!

But it's not about you, is it!