Big bank and insurer Suncorp has introduced paid gender affirmation leave to support its trans and gender diverse employees.
Eligible Suncorp workers can now access six weeks’ paid gender affirmation leave and up to 12 months unpaid leave.
“Gender affirmation looks different for every individual. It is often a complex process that involves multiple steps over a sustained period of time,” Suncorp said in a statement.
But the new leave gives those employees “the time and financial support required to engage in the steps they need to affirm their gender.”
Legal steps may include changing a person’s name or gender marker on ID documents.
Medical steps may include various appointments and rest and recovery after healthcare.
Suncorp employee Vera Dawson explained the flexibility of the leave was important to her. She said her own ongoing appointments often have a significant wait-time.
Some of the appointments she needs to attend are extremely difficult for a person working full-time.
“People like me now have the freedom and the support of the organisation to make the appointments they need,” she said.
“It’s just going to make things so much more painless for them.”
It comes after other corporations like ANZ and Coles as well as the CSIRO science agency announced their own gender affirmation leave for trans workers.
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