Gender identity and discrimination in the workplace

ByrneWallace LLP is delighted to support the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)’s Employment Law Seminar which takes place on Wednesday, 26 January 2022.

One of the topics which will be discussed at this event is gender identity in the workplace. Gender identity has come to prominence in recent years, leading to the introduction of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 which allows individuals over the age of 18 to apply for a gender recognition certificate to reflect their preferred gender identity. Employees also enjoy certain protections from discrimination under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015. Notwithstanding these protections and the growing prevalence of the declaration by individuals of their preferred pronouns, addressing gender identity in the workplace remains a sensitive and complex matter. 

Some frequent questions raised by employers are:

• To what extent does gender identity need to be addressed in the workplace, if at all?

• What measures can employers take to support employees who are undergoing gender re-assignment? Do employers need to update their shared facilities e.g. bathrooms/wash rooms?

• Should employers update their policies to address gender identity in the workplace? If so, how should they do so? Should the choice to use pronouns be introduced?  What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a measure? 
  

There is no uniform approach to addressing gender identity issues in the workplace. However, this seminar will assist employers in navigating some of the above challenges.

For more information and to book your place on the CIPD Employment Law Seminar in partnership with ByrneWallace LLP, click here. 

For more information on our employment law services, click here.