Meesho implements new 'gender confirmation' leave policy for employees

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jan 19, 2022

E-commerce business Meesho has launched a 'gender confirmation' leave policy for its employees who wish to undergo medical procedures to transition their gender, as part of its inclusivity initiatives. 

Meesho, a Bengaluru-based business which reached a valuation of over a billion dollars last year, is taking steps to make its workplace more inclusive, the Economic Times reported. The business’ new policy follows in the footsteps of others including Godrej and Amazon, which have rolled out similar initiatives. 
 
“Over the past six months or so, we have been revisiting our policies through a lens of inclusivity and changing them, or adding new ones, when required,” said Meesho’s chief human resources officer Ashish Singh, ET Bureau reported. “With this new policy, we want to support employees going through gender transition and ensure they have the required time off.”

As part of the new policy, employees wishing to go through a gender transition will be able to take a month’s paid leave from their work at Meesho. The business’ insurance policy will cover any employee gender reassignment surgery, according to Singh. 
 
The business, which has around 1,700 employees in India, is also looking into enabling workers in same-sex and live-in partnerships to include their partners on their company insurance policy.