Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all staff members, regardless of their gender identity. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance and support to colleagues who may wish to transition or affirm their gender in the workplace. It is unlikely that this policy will anticipate every situation that might occur and therefore the needs of each individual must be considered, on a case-by-case basis, as and when the circumstances arise. This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, and contractors at Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries. Employee Roles and Responsibilities: All employees have a responsibility to:
- Maintain an awareness of Hopscotch policies regarding trans people.
- Behave in ways that are sensitive to and respectful to others.
- Respect and keep confidential information about any trans or intersex persons, even if they choose to confide in you.
- Use correct names and pronouns.
All Managers have a responsibility to:
- Ensure that this policy is implemented effectively.
- Foster a culture in which compliance with this policy is regarded as integral to the work of Hopscotch.
- Establish and maintain a working environment that provides equality and respect for all employees.
- Take proactive steps to prevent bullying or harassment of trans and intersex employees and act promptly if there is evidence that it is occurring.
- Respect and keep confidential information about any trans or intersex employee, even if they choose to confide in you.
- Not to refer to a trans person’s gender history in local records.
All staff members have the right to be addressed by the name and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity.
Staff members are encouraged to share their preferred name and pronouns with colleagues and management.
Information regarding an individual’s gender identity will be kept confidential and shared only with those who need to know, unless the individual gives explicit permission to share this information more broadly.
Hopscotch will not ask prospective employees for any information regarding their gender history as part of the recruitment process however it may be necessary following provisional offer of employment to make enquiries into previous names and employment history as part of the pre-employment reference and security checks.
Transitioning is a unique process for each individual and may include any number of changes to a person’s life. It should not be assumed that the goal of every individual’s transition is to change their physiology or legal gender.
Additionally, the individual may consider temporary or permanent adjustments which will support their transitioning process. Workplace adjustments should be led by the individual. Any agreed adjustments can be recorded, being mindful of confidentiality. Under no circumstances should information be passed to anyone else without the express permission of the individual who is transitioning.
Not all people undergo surgery as part of the transitioning process, every individual, with medical support, makes the decision that is right for them. Nevertheless, employees may need to attend many appointments and/or undergo a range of medical or surgical procedures related to their transition which requires time away from work.
Where employees are required to be absent from work in circumstances resulting directly from their transitioning process or intersex status, wherever possible appointments should be made outside normal working hours. However, if this is not possible the employee will need to communicate their appointments with their line manager in a timely manner.
Pronouns are the words we use to refer to people’s gender in conversation - for example, ‘he’ or ‘she’. Some people may prefer others to refer to them in gender neutral language and use pronouns such as they/their.
Employees can expect to be referred to by their preferred pronoun be that gender specific or gender neutral.
Hopscotch recognises that unintentional mistakes may occur therefore all employees should be reassured that where they accidentally misgender an employee a simple apology and correction is the best resolution in these circumstances. Where deliberate, persistent or malicious misgendering occurs managers should refer to the bullying and harassment section below.
Any employee who believes they have a complaint to make in relation to this policy may prefer in the first instance to take an informal approach which may include raising the issue with their line manager, a Respect contact, a member of the HR team, or with their countersigning officer to seek a resolution.
If that is not successful or not appropriate, they should refer to the grievance procedure, which identifies informal and formal options to resolution, including mediation.
Discrimination, harassment, or bullying based on gender identity will not be tolerated. Any such incidents will be addressed promptly and appropriately.
All staff members are encouraged to report any instances of discrimination or harassment to management.
The dress code is unisex to accommodate the diverse gender identities of staff members.
Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries will provide access to support services for staff members who may need assistance related to their gender identity.
An open-door policy will be maintained for all staff to discuss any queries related to gender identity with management.
If an employee proposes to change their gender, has started to do so or has already done so, they are protected by the Equality Act (changing gender does not have to include medical processes or intervention).
When reviewing special considerations for transgender employees, we will seek specialist advice and liaise directly with the employee regarding their requirements. For example, we enable employees to inform us of their preferred gender and pronouns, and we treat absence for transitioning in line with our general absence procedures.
This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Feedback from staff will be considered in the review process.
Hopscotch Children’s Nurseries is dedicated to fostering a workplace where all staff members feel valued, respected, and supported, regardless of their gender identity. We believe that diversity enriches our community and enhances the quality of care we provide.