Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Business
Kaitlyn Offer

Coles introduces gender affirmation leave

Coles Chief Legal and Safety Officer David Brewster (r) with Pride Cup Australia founder Jason Ball. (AAP)

Trans and gender-diverse staff of supermarket chain Coles will be entitled to up to 10 days of paid gender affirmation leave.

The grocery giant announced the move on Wednesday, the day after International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia.

"We know that we have at least 900 team members who identify as transgender or gender diverse," Coles Chief Legal and Safety Officer and chair of the company's Pride Steering Committee David Brewster said in a statement.

"We need to have proper policy and education in this area so there is clear guidance around taking leave for this important transition in their life."

Coles, which employs about 124,000 people, now has pride committees in every state.

It has also signed up as an official partner of Pride Cup Australia, which promotes inclusivity and diversity in sport.

Woolworths introduced two weeks paid and two weeks unpaid affirmation leave in 2021.

"It's fantastic that the other of the two major supermarket companies are supporting their trans and gender diverse staff," Apple Jack Freshwater Brown from Trans Pride Australia told AAP.

"This encourages people from the company to apply because they know they are in a well-supported workplace environment."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.