Amazon has launched a new set of guidelines intended to help company employees and leaders in the U.K. make transgender employees feel included in a productive work environment.
“Diversity and inclusion is good for our business and our customers, and transgender employees are an important part of our team,” said Amazon U.K. media director Simon Johnson, the Financial Times reported Friday.
The guidelines address matters concerning bathroom privileges for employees who identify as transgender as well as dress code standards for male, female and transgender staff members. Policies on how to best aid a person who is transitioning to the opposite gender while working for the company are also included in the guidelines, according to the Financial Times.
Amazon employee Michael — who is transitioning from male to female and was identified by first name only — said the guidelines and support are “invaluable to myself, my team and my wider colleagues.”
“It provides comprehensive resources to answer some of the more common questions around names, pronouns and policies without my colleagues needing to worry about whether or not they were allowed to ask particular questions,” Michael added.
Amazon made a similar move in 2017 when it issued a set of transgender policy guidelines in the U.S. after a man and his transgender wife filed a lawsuit against the company. The couple filed their suit in August 2017 and alleged they were subjected to sexual harassment and discrimination during their year of work at an Amazon warehouse in Kentucky. (RELATED: Man And Transgender Wife Sue Amazon Over Discrimination)
The guidelines come after Amazon was lambasted for warehouses a number of workers criticized for poor conditions.
“Ive worked in warehouses before, but this was nothing like I had experienced. You dont have proper breaks — by the time you get to the canteen, you only have 15 or 20 minutes for lunch, in a 10-1/2-hour working day,” James Bloodworth, an undercover reporter who worked at an Amazon warehouse, told Business Insider. “You dont have time to eat properly to get a drink.”
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