Travel

Virgin Atlantic to let male pilots wear skirts as it scraps gendered uniforms and introduces pronoun badges

In order to allow employees to “wear uniforms that show their genuine identity,” Virgin Atlantic has modified their uniform policy to remove gendered clothing limitations and introduce pronoun badges.

Staff, including plane crew and pilots, will have the option of wearing either the’red’ or ‘burgundy’ uniforms of the company. Previously, female flight attendants wore the’red’ option, while male flight attendants wore the ‘burgundy’ option.

Virgin is also mandating inclusion training for all Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic Holidays employees, as well as training for tourist partners.

The airline has partnered with RuPaul’s Drag Race star Michelle Visage in an effort to’reflect the diversity of its workforce’ and ‘give its employees a fluid approach to its red and burgundy uniforms, allowing LGBTQ+ employees to select the uniform that best reflects them.’

Additionally, the company will distribute optional pronoun badges that allow employees and consumers to display the pronouns they prefer to be addressed to by.

The badges can be requested during check-in beginning today.

Virgin sees today’s release as part of a “continuing effort to celebrate the individuality of its people and customers,” which includes allowing more consumers to purchase flights using the gender-neutral ‘U’ or ‘X’ marks.

With the abolition of ‘gendered’ wardrobe rules, Virgin Atlantic Crew will now be able to choose which uniform to wear.

Michelle Visage, who is best known as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, has partnered with Virgin and believes it is her ‘duty’ to be an ally and friend to the LGBTQ+ community.The company says the move is aimed at allowing members of the LGBTQ+ community to choose the uniform which best represents them

The corporation said the decision will allow LGBTQ+ community members to select the uniform that best reflects them.

The company will also offer optional pronoun badges to both employees and customers.

This option is available to those who possess passports with ‘gender neutral gender markers,’ including citizens of the United States, India, and Pakistan, but not the United Kingdom.

The recent modifications to corporate policy are part of the airline’s ‘Be Yourself’ campaign, which saw the airline become the first in the United Kingdom to permit employees to exhibit their tattoos at work earlier this year.The company is also introducing optional pronoun badges, available to both staff and customers

In 2019, Virgin Atlantic was one of the first major airlines to no longer demand female cabin workers to wear cosmetics and slacks instead of skirts while on duty.

Jaime Forsstroem, a member of Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew, stated, “The amended gender identification policy is extremely vital to me.” As a non-binary individual, I am able to be myself at work and choose which uniform to wear.’

Michelle Visage, Tanya Compas, Talulah-Eve, and Tyreece Nye have collaborated with Virgin Atlantic to promote the new policy in a fashion editorial that was released today.Tyreece Nye (pictured) described the uniform changes as giving a voice to everyone in the community: 'This policy allows everyone to have a seat at the table'

Michelle Visage stated, “As the mother of a non-binary kid and an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, these initiatives by Virgin Atlantic to promote inclusivity for its employees are incredibly meaningful and personal to me.”

This gender identification policy encourages individuals to embrace who they are and bring their complete selves to work, so fostering a sense of empowerment.

She stated in a promotional film for the airline, “I wanted to support this effort in order to impact change in the globe.”

“I have a transgender, non-binary child, therefore changing the world is my responsibility as a mother, a friend, and an ally,” she said.

Tyreece Nye, a non-binary performer and activist who participated in the campaign, stated, ‘This policy gives everyone a seat at the table. It gives everyone in the community a voice without taking anything away from anyone.

First Officer Alison Porte stated, ‘It has nothing to do with canceling somebody.

It is not a matter of removing women or guys. It only need more inclusive wording.’

According to Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic, “At Virgin Atlantic, we believe that anyone can conquer the world, regardless of who they are.”

Therefore, it is crucial that we empower our employees to embrace their uniqueness and be themselves at work.

Therefore, we want to allow our employees to wear the uniform that best reflects who they are and how they identify, and we want to ensure that our customers are addressed with their preferred pronouns.

In January, Virgin Atlantic began accepting applications for 400 new cabin staff positions.

Virgin Atlantic’s Chief People Officer, Estelle Hollingsworth, stated at the time, ‘It’s the best jobs that make people fly, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome so many new cabin crew members to the skies with our recruitment campaign.

“We’re committed to encouraging diversity both on the ground and on board, so we’re looking for people from all backgrounds who aim to be the airline’s welcoming, smiling, and professional face – with the signature Virgin Atlantic style and flair.”

‘We value diversity and originality, and by allowing all of our employees to be themselves at work, we maintain an inclusive workplace in which they may all flourish.

Comments

Source
tdpelmedia.com
Back to top button