Virgin Atlantic introduces gender inclusive uniform policy

Airline business Virgin Atlantic has amended its gender identity and transgender inclusion policies in order to allow crew, pilots and ground team members the option to choose which uniforms best represent them.

The business has introduced a policy allowing staff to choose their uniform depending on which best reflects them, regardless of gender, gender identity, or gender expression. Virgin Atlantic has also rolled out optional pronoun badges for all staff and those travelling with the airline.

It also committed to ensuring all employees across Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic Holidays undertake mandatory inclusivity training, as well as launching a series of inclusivity learning initiatives for tourism partners and hotels.

The airline has also updated its existing trans inclusion policies, which allow time off for medical treatments related to gender transition, personal choice of changing and shower facilities that align with the gender a person identifies as, and co-creation of a personalised transitioning plan.

According to the business, this is part of an ongoing drive to champion the individuality of its people and customers and its ‘Be Yourself’ agenda, through which it has unveiled a series of inclusivity initiatives for its staff to ensure they can truly be themselves at work and feel comfortable in their roles.

Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “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.”