Royal Mail has updated its job titles to use the gender-neutral term 'postperson' instead of 'postman' or 'postwoman', in a move to be more inclusive of non-binary employees. The change follows criticism from a non-binary worker who felt uncomfortable with the traditional gendered titles.
The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, described their experience applying for a job at Royal Mail in 2019. They saw the job advertised as 'Postman/woman' and felt it highlighted the company's traditional approach. Despite this, they applied and were offered the role.
On their first day, they were misgendered multiple times, being called 'young man' by managers. They said correcting people when misgendered can be a huge struggle for non-binary people, and they often chose to stay quiet to avoid uncomfortable conversations.
The worker also faced a workplace culture where gay jokes were common, making it difficult to come out as non-binary. They noted that even explaining their vegan diet became a nickname, illustrating the challenge of discussing gender identity.
Royal Mail's new policy aims to address these issues by using gender-neutral language in job titles, which the worker believes would have made them feel more encouraged to assert their identity. The company stated it is committed to diversity and inclusion.
