The National Retail Association (NRA) has called for greater awareness and action to support transgender people in the retail industry, as it marks Wear it Purple Day today by launching a new publication for employers, the ‘Guide to Creating Trans Inclusive Workplaces’.
NRA CEO Dominique Lamb says that as the largest employer of young people in Australia, the retail industry has an important role to play in supporting LGBTIQ+ youth.
“The NRA has created the retail industry’s first ever ‘Guide to Creating Trans Inclusive Workplaces’ to provide retailers with the knowledge and tools they need to better support transgender employees in the workplace,” she says.
The Guide, says the NRA, explains important concepts, addresses common mistakes and misunderstandings, and educates businesses on steps they can take to create a more inclusive workplace for trans employees.
To launch the Guide, the NRA highlighted the voices of trans people by hosting a panel discussion with members from the trans community, which featured speakers from headspace and Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. The panel discussed their experiences at work, what barriers and discrimination trans people face in the workplace, and what steps employers can take to support trans employees to bring their whole selves to work.
“The NRA understands that it’s not enough to pay lip service to diversity and inclusion,” says Ms Lamb. “By providing businesses with this knowledge and support, we can make the retail industry a safer and more inclusive place for everyone.
“The NRA has a long history of supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and we are proud to continue this record as the first industry association to actively promote transgender inclusion in the retail industry.
“The future of the retail industry depends on our dynamism and ability to think outside the box, and this can only happen by promoting inclusion and diversity.”