Miami Herald, FL, USA


STEVE ROTHAUS' GAY SOUTH FLORIDA

FedEx announces workplace protections for transgender community


News release from NorthStar Asset Management:

FedEx Delivers to the Transgender Community

NorthStar Asset Management, Inc., a portfolio management company
in Boston, is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement
with FedEx Corporation, a provider of transportation and business
solutions, for the creation of an official FedEx policy that is
inclusive of gender identity.
“We filed a resolution seeking protection against any form of job
discrimination based on gender identity, and FedEx responded with a
desire to understand and incorporate such a policy,” said Julie
Goodridge, CEO of NorthStar Asset Management, Inc.

According to the National Center for Transgender Equality,
transgender people face disproportionate amounts of discrimination in
virtually all areas of life, especially in employment and health care.
Congress and the Obama Administration have been slow to act on passing
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (a proposed bill that would
prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity) and because of this; an increasing
number of companies – often after being confronted with shareholder
resolutions regarding gender identity – are adding appropriate
protections. According to the Human Rights Campaign’s State of the
Workplace 2008 report, currently 35% of Fortune 500 companies, and
over 60% of the top 100 Fortune-ranked businesses, have inclusive
employment policies, and have added gender identity to their diversity
and sensitivity programs.

“Transgender people suffer the greatest amount of discrimination
in the workforce and have little recourse due to the lack of
protection under state and federal law,” Goodridge noted. “While it is
unfortunate that the Federal government has yet to pass an inclusive
Non-Discrimination Act that includes all people, thankfully there are
U.S. corporations like FedEx who are determined to protect and value
all of their workers…they are leading the way potentially years ahead
of Capitol Hill.”

Marisa Richmond, Ph.D., President of the Tennessee Transgender
Political Coalition – located in the state where the corporate
headquarters of FedEx resides – said “We are pleased that FedEx is
expanding its non-discrimination policy to include gender identity.
By recognizing the value and contributions of transgender workers, we
believe the company will benefit from those contributions, and that
this will allow their current and future employees the opportunity to
help the company move forward.”

Forbes Magazine recognized FedEx in March 2009 as one of the most
admired companies in the world; NorthStar applauds this most recent
step that shows the company’s continuing desire to crea te a safe
working environment.

NorthStar Asset Management, Inc. is a wealth management firm based
in Boston, specializing in socially responsible investing.


July 13, 2009 in Business, Current Affairs, Transgender, Workplace


http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2009/07/fedex-announces-workplace\
-protections-for-transgender-community.html