Supporting trans employees in the workplace

This report produced by IES on behalf of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) collates the evidence from IES research on managing gender identity in the workplace. The research aimed to provide relevant insights for managers and employees in order to establish what good practice looks like with regards to supporting trans or intersex employees in the workplace.

The research involved an evidence review to identify research published since the introduction of the Equality Act 2010 with regards to terminology, good practice and barriers. Qualitative fieldwork was also undertaken to identify good practice employers and involved interviews with these employers and key stakeholders. Stakeholders represented both trans and LGBTQIA advocacy groups and organisations with expertise in equality and diversity, employment rights, and working conditions. Three organisational-level case studies were also conducted.

The report brings together the findings from the evidence review and qualitative fieldwork and offers insights on:

• terminology used;
• the employment landscape for trans workers in the UK;
• what 'good practice' employers do, including their flexible and tailored approach to managing gender identity in the workplace; and
• the barriers, challenges and suggestions for change, including the lack of knowledge amongst employers with regards to the experiences of non-binary or otherwise gender non-conforming people as well as intersex people.