ANZ, Coles announce gender affirmation leave policies for transitioning staff

Big four bank ANZ has confirmed it will offer staff six weeks of paid gender affirmation leave — just one month after supermarket giant Coles introduced its own policy — to support employees undertaking the journey to their true gender identity.

ANZ’s leave will cover employees who are taking steps to affirm their gender, either social (dressing or stylising, changing pronouns or name), medical (surgery, hormone therapy, appointments), or legal affirmation (changing the name or gender marker on a passport, birth certificate, or driver’s license).

“There are many ways an individual can affirm their gender, and the extended leave recognises the process needs time and is not the same for everyone,” ANZ said in a statement on Monday, while adding staff can take up to 12 months’ unpaid leave too.