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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Milo Boyd

British Airways reviews uniforms after Virgin lets staff choose gender inclusive outfits

British Airways is reviewing its uniform policy after Virgin Atlantic rolled out a range of gender inclusive outfits.

Last week Virgin announced a new gender identity policy that allows staff members to wear whichever uniform they feel is right for them.

The move means that male staff can wear skirts and dresses, and female staff can wear trousers - all of which are designed by Dame Vivienne Westwood.

The airline also rolled out a number of policies designed to make customers and staff feel included, including badges with pronoun markers being freely available at the check in desk and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.

The outfits have been designed by Vivienne Westwood. (Virgin Atlantic)

Following the move, British Airways announced it is reviewing its own uniform policy.

The airline told The Mirror: “At British Airways we're committed to an inclusive working environment and as part of that, we're reviewing our uniform policy and will update our colleagues when the review is complete.”

The Telegraph has claimed that changes are likely to not be as significant as those introduced at Virgin.

Virgin Atlantic's decision last week was praised by a member of staff who said they had never been happier at work.

Jamie Forsstrom has been in the air service industry for the past four years and until now they had to wear a skirt, or dress, while on the job.

Virgin has let staff choose what they wear (Virgin Atlantic/Youtube)

Jamie said: "It means personally very very much, I'm a non-binary person and I lean on the masculine side of being non-binary - it means I get to be myself at work and wear the uniform I feel more comfortable in.

"It means everything to me, it's such a big change.

"Previously I worked for an airline and I wore the ladies' uniform because when I was born I was female.

"I had to wear a skirt and a jacket, I could have worn a dress or trousers, but it was a ladies' uniform. It was ok because I wasn't quite out at that time, I thought I needed to wear it."

Although Virgin Atlantic have just announced the new policy, Jamie said they were free to wear whichever uniform they wanted from their very first day.

Jamie described the change as being like a 'day and night difference', and said that more employers should follow suit.

They continued: "I asked on my assessment day if I could wear it if I wanted to and they said yes - they asked someone high up and they said, 'yes, no problem."

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