That’s exceedingly woke! Food giant behind Mr Kipling cakes offers ‘trans inclusivity’ training to staff
- Premier Foods will offer training on menopause and maternity coaching sessions
- The company will also provide uncapped, paid time off for those transitioning
- Transitioning employees and their managers will be expected to take up transgender coaching sessions
The food giant behind Mr Kipling cakes, Bisto gravy and Bird’s custard is to offer ‘trans inclusivity’ training to its staff.
Premier Foods will also offer online training on the menopause and maternity coaching sessions as part of a policy overhaul.
The company will also now provide uncapped, paid time off for staff going through the menopause or gender reassignment surgery, The Telegraph reported last night.
Human resources director David Wilkinson said: ‘As the workplace and our workforce constantly evolves, it’s important that our policies reflect these changes and help us support our colleagues through whatever they may be facing.’
Only employees who are transitioning or managing someone who is transitioning are expected to take up the transgender coaching, which will include one-on-one coaching sessions.
It has been developed in partnership with the Trans in the City and Cool to be Trans organisations.
But all 4,000 staff will be eligible for training around the menopause as well as practical tips for those working with colleagues going through the so-called ‘change of life’.
The food giant behind Mr Kipling cakes, Bisto gravy and Bird’s custard is to offer ‘trans inclusivity’ training to its staff
Human resources director David Wilkinson said: ‘As the workplace and our workforce constantly evolves, it’s important that our policies reflect these changes and help us support our colleagues through whatever they may be facing’
Menopause champions will hold regular ‘menopause cafes’ for colleagues to discuss their experiences, the firm said, as part of ‘new modern workplace policies’ including coaching sessions for new parents or parents-to-be.
Firms have made determined efforts to improve their diversity in recent years.
In 2020, City law firm Clifford Chance banned gendered language in legal templates.
Airlines Tui and British Airways have told staff to modify their language and no longer refer to passengers as ‘ladies and gentleman’ in favour of more gender-neutral and inclusive terms such as ‘passengers’.
Earlier this year it emerged that Britain’s highest paid diversity officer was on a higher salary than Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Network Rail’s director of diversity and inclusion, Loraine Martins, took home between £160,000 and £165,000 official data showed – higher than the £157,372 that Mr Johnson received last year.
Network Rail’s director of diversity and inclusion, Loraine Martins, took home a higher salary than the Prime Minister last year
Sarah Robb, foodservice channel marketing manager at Premier Foods, said: ‘Not everyone is going to feel comfortable talking about personal issues like the menopause but raising awareness of these major life events and creating an environment where people can if they want to, is so important if we’re to hold on to great talent.
‘I’m currently perimenopausal and before I sought help, it was a really scary time not knowing what was happening to my mind and body.
‘While not for everyone, being able to have an open and frank conversation with my manager about how this was affecting me felt like a huge weight had lifted and if colleagues going through something just as personal feel empowered to speak out, then that has to be a good thing.’
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