Virgin Atlantic is on a mission to make itself more inclusive through a series of changes that will accommodate staff and passengers’ gender representation. One of the updates pertains to the airline’s uniform policy which will allow airline staff to wear uniforms that they feel best represents them, regardless of their gender identity.
The uniforms have been designed by Vivienne Westwood and include options for pants, skirts, blazers, and ties. According to the new policy, crew members and front-line staff will also be able to wear optional make-up and have visible tattoos.
The policy is in response to research which found that allowing staff to embrace their individuality at work increases mental well-being by 49%, feelings of happiness by 65%, and creates a better experience for staff and customers by 24%.
“At Virgin Atlantic, we believe that everyone can take on the world, no matter who they are,” said Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic’s chief commercial officer. “That’s why it’s so important that we enable our people to embrace their individuality and be their true selves at work. It is for that reason that we want to allow our people to wear the uniform that best suits them and how they identify and ensure our customers are addressed by their preferred pronouns.”
Crew can choose to wear pronoun badges, and the airline’s ticket system will recognize passengers whose passports include gender-neutral gender markers.