- The manual brings together the best practices from three organizations on human and labor rights for the Trans population.
- It is freely accessible for any company or organization that wishes to implement specialized processes and policies that tend to transgender people.
- With this document, HRC, PepsiCo and Baker McKenzie reinforce their leadership in diversity and inclusion issues.
Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, Trans and queer civil rights organization in the United States, expanded its Equidad MX program by presenting the first Manual for the Inclusion of Trans People in the Workplace today. A guide that any company in Mexico can implement to put forth policies in favor of the trans community, with the aim of providing equitable access and safe spaces in the workplace.
We developed the manual in collaboration with PepsiCo Mexico Foods ̶ a leading company in the inclusion of Trans people that contributed with the knowledge and processes of its own Protocol for Trans Inclusion, which has been operating since 2020. Alongside with the law firm Baker McKenzie, which also contributed with the analysis of the legal and regulatory framework, as well as their knowledge and regional experience on the inclusion of Trans people in companies.
In Mexico, more than 70% of Trans people have experienced discrimination, according to official data from the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (Conapred). After home, workplaces are the second space where they are most likely to experience or suffer discrimination.
Given this context, and the need to consolidate an organizational culture that provides more diverse, inclusive and safe workspaces, the Manual for the Inclusion of Trans People in the Workplace is an urgent document that will help more companies in the adoption of protocols for attracting and retaining Trans workers. With a human rights approach and consideration of the existing legal framework.
"It is critical to a person's self-esteem to be able to show the world who they are, which means to authentically present themselves to the workplace," said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “The transgender community is disproportionately affected by discrimination, lack of job opportunities and potential disadvantages within the workplace; that is why this resource has the power to change the rules of the game in the daily life of the Mexican transgender community."
The Manual for the Inclusion of Trans People in the Workplace suggests certain modifications and additions to administrative processes for Mexican companies, such as:
- Trans-inclusive recruitment practices, free from gender stereotypes
- Awareness among teams, supervisors and colleagues
- Personalized and sensitive support in case of transition
- Respect for seniority after a change in legal identity
- Flexible and trans-inclusive dress code, according to gender identity Incorporation of neutral restrooms and adaptation of inclusive trans restrooms and facilities
"This initiative was a natural and necessary expansion of the HRC Equidad MX program, which already has an established and inclusive corporate network in Mexico that is eager to implement inclusion guidelines for transgender and non-gender binary people in the workplace," said Milagros Chirinos, Associate Director of Global Business Programs for the HRC Foundation. “Mexico continues to lead the way for LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace in Latin America; this set of tools reflects ongoing efforts to promote greater equality and inclusion for the LGBTQ community in the workplace.”
With this document, the three organizations seek to share a permanent standard for other companies in Mexico and be a source of support in the implementation of anti-discrimination, diversity and inclusion policies, as well as strategies for attracting, hiring and retaining trans talent. Likewise, organizations are able to build a starting point on administrative procedures, as well as legal references, to attend to cases of social and legal gender transition of their collaborators.
“To expand our commitment to the trans community, since 2020 we have implemented an internal protocol that allows us to attend to our colleagues in a personalized way, under the highest international human rights standards. Thanks to working together with HRC Equidad MX and Baker McKenzie, now our processes will be freely consulted through this manual, so that any company in Mexico can be guided by the same principles. Thus, we continue to strengthen our diversity and inclusion agenda," said Alina Hernández, Director of Corporate Affairs for PepsiCo Latin America.
The launch event for the Manual was on a digital platform, through a live broadcast on the YouTube channel of HRC Equidad MX. Francisco Robledo and Fernando Velázquez, implementing partners of HRC Equidad MX and leaders of the initiative were there. Also participating were Javiera Medina Reza, partner at Baker McKenzie in Mexico and Miriam Villafaña, head of the Corporate Social Responsibility at the firm, as well as members of the Trans advisory council, who participated throughout the development of the document, Hosting was in charge of Juliette Greenham, a trans activist and member of council.
"At Baker McKenzie we are not neutral; we are committed to promoting a culture of respect and inclusion within the firm, as well as with our stakeholders. We thank HRC Equidad MX, PepsiCo and the trans advisory council for the opportunity to have worked as a team in favor of a common goal for many organizations. We are very proud to have contributed to this important project that represents a great advance for the trans community and for employers in Mexico. We are sure that this tool will be helpful for both and that they will contribute to a successful cultural change," said Raymundo Enríquez, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie in Mexico.
It is estimated that in Mexico there is a trans population of at least 630,000 people who still face multiple challenges, from family, legal, academic, to medical, psychological, economic and security. Only 11% of trans people reach university studies and only 5% manage to practice their profession in a company, according to figures from the National Council to Prevent Discrimination.
To continue promoting inclusion, equity and a sense of belonging for the entire workforce in Mexico, the Manual's mission is to raise awareness among companies and organizations with a presence in the country about the importance of implementing a holistic vision in favor of Trans people, and in this way, continue adding allies who seek workplace inclusion.
For more information on HRC's Equidad MX Program in Mexico, or to download a free copy of this manual, click here, write to equidadmx@hrc.org or subscribe to their YouTube channel.