Suncorp introduces new leave for gender affirmation

Suncorp New Zealand will offer new leave entitlements for employees undergoing gender affirmation.

The company is providing six weeks of paid gender affirmation leave and up to 12 months of unpaid leave, giving employees time to affirm their gender, Suncorp said in a statement.

The gender affirming process can include telling friends and colleagues about the change, legally changing names and/or gender markers on identification documents, and/or undergoing surgery and hormone therapy.

Catherine Dixon, Suncorp New Zealand executive general manager for people and culture, said the insurer wanted to support employees and create a more supportive environment.

“Providing this leave entitlement is the best way that we can offer support with what is often a complex process for people which can involve a variety of different steps over a period of time.

"We want our people who are working towards affirming their gender to be able to take time to go to appointments, speak with their family if they need to, and to have the space they need to get to where they want to be in their gender affirmation journey.

“In addition to this, we know that transgender and non-binary people face a raft of different societal challenges in comparison to cis-gendered populations, making it more important that we ensure that these employees don’t feel like they have to leave their jobs in order to have the time to undertake these changes.”

Scott Jensen, the New Zealand lead for Suncorp’s LGBTIQ+ focused employee resource group, Amplify, said the new leave entitlement was a positive step.

“I’m really hopeful that this new leave entitlement will make people more comfortable sharing their true selves with their colleagues.

“The more work the business does to support LGBTIQ+ employees in this way, the more we are able to continue to attract a diverse range of talent, reflective of all the communities we see outside of the office.”