Summary

In the course of our work we come across some pretty egregious equity, diversity and inclusion policies, but the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s ‘Transitioning at Work and Gender Diversity Policy’ is the worst yet. This NHS Trust is effectively telling female Muslim employees that if they refuse to use – or express any concerns about using – toilets or showers with trans-identifying biological males they will face disciplinary action. That is a clear breach of the Equality Act and any employee sacked by this Trust for failing to comply with the more draconian aspects of this policy, whether a person of faith or someone with gender critical beliefs, would have an open-and-shut case for compensation in the Employment Tribunal.