Employer’s Moral Duty
With more media coverage on trans issues over the last five years or so, trans people are becoming more visible and we feel more able to come out than we ever have before. It’s becoming more an more likely that you will have a transgender member of your team soon (if you haven’t already). This can cause problems in the workplace if there are some transphobic members of the team or others who are just ignorant of the needs and sensitivities of trans colleagues. A survey in 2017 by Catalyst showed that a staggering 80% of trans people experience transphobia in the workplace. A 2018 Stonewall report showed that 1 in 8 trans employees (12%) have been physically attacked by colleagues or customers in the last year. That really shouldn’t be.

Employer’s Legal Duty
Apart from your moral duty to protect your employees from transphobic abuse, you also have a legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010 to create an inclusive workplace and to have anti-discrimination policies in place.

The Business Case for Trans Awareness Training (& for all LGBT+ Inclusion)
It makes great business sense too as LGBT+ staff are 32% more productive when they are comfortable being out at work. In 2016, Credit Suisse discovered that 270 companies that were identified as LGBT+ friendly had a share price that outperformed their peers by 1.3% per year over six years. They also found that closeted employees are 73% more likely to leave their jobs within 3 years than those who are out. So by being trans-inclusive, you are likely to have greater staff retention as well as have a more profitable company. Also, what do your customers think of you? The Harvard Business Review 2016 showed that 71% of LGBT respondents and 82% of LGBT allies said they are more likely to purchase from a company that supports LGBT equality. That’s what I call a win-win-win!

Why Choose Katie Neeves?
Being a transgender woman who is currently in transition, I offer a very personal, powerful and authentic insight into what it’s like to be transgender in the UK. I am not associated with any campaign groups and I have no hidden agenda. I tell my story with humour and in a refreshingly un-PC and non-political manner. I am not afraid to tell it like it is.

I prefer to have small groups of 8 to 10 people per session as I aim to create an atmosphere in which people feel comfortable to ask me questions that they may feel uncomfortable asking a trans colleague. Nothing is off-limits! I am not embarrassed about answering very personal questions as I know it helps to further others’ understanding and acceptance of trans people. I actively encourage questions and dialogue as I want my sessions to be more like a conversation than a lecture. While I am happy to talk to larger groups, it’s much easier in trans awareness training sessions to achieve a conversation with small groups.

I am happy to either work directly for companies or as a subcontractor to other diversity trainers who may need some help with their transgender awareness module.

I currently offer two trans awareness training courses…

• The basic trans awareness course is for everyone and it will help staff to form positive relationships with trans colleagues and customers.
• An add-on course is available for management to help them to deal with specific issues such as transphobic members of staff.

If you are interested in booking a trans awareness training course, please CONTACT ME  or call me on 07973 638 591.