(FreedomBeacon.com)- Virgin Atlantic announced adjustments to its uniform policy and ticketing system on Wednesday. The airline will no longer restrict employees from wearing gender-specific uniforms and allow nonbinary and gender nonconforming customers to choose a gender code and title that reflect their identities.
The British airline announced policy changes on Wednesday that are effective immediately and allow flight and ground staff workers to choose the uniform that best represents them, regardless of gender, gender identity, or gender expression.
Employees can now choose to wear pronoun badges to ensure they are recognized by their coworkers and visitors, for whom badges are also available.
According to a survey performed earlier this month for Virgin Atlantic, 65 percent of individuals in the U.K., where the airline is based, agree that happier employees are allowed to show their “real selves” at work. Twenty-four percent of respondents felt that allowing employees to authentically improves the customer experience, while another 49 percent claimed that inclusive work environments improve employees’ mental health.
According to the survey, employees are more likely to feel accepted and at ease at work when they are given the freedom to express themselves. Additionally, they are more inclined to have a stronger devotion toward their company.
On Wednesday, the airline updated its ticketing system, enabling travelers with gender-neutral passports to choose a “U” or “X” gender code and the gender-neutral title “Mx” when making a Virgin Atlantic reservation. The business also said that a longer-term strategy to modify communication preferences is being developed to cover tourists who cannot choose a gender-neutral gender identification on their passports.
Virgin Atlantic’s policy modification followed the 2019 decision that made it optional for female cabin crew employees to wear cosmetics, skirts, and high-heeled shoes. The company’s ban on visible tattoos for crew members and front-line employees was relaxed in June.
Other airlines have taken similar actions to broaden the scope of their standardized policy. In March, Alaska Airlines loosened nail paint, tattoos, and body piercings rules. Additionally, the airline renamed the “male” and “female” uniform kits to “masculine” and “feminine” kits.
