City Council Meeting Date: October 5, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Communications & Human Resources Director Mahowald
Title
Consider Approval of New Administrative Policy (Personal Pronoun Sharing).
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves a Motion adopting the attached Administrative Policy regarding Personal Pronoun Sharing.
Summary Report:
The Council Employment Policy Committee discussed and made a motion to recommend approval of this policy for City Council approval at their September 22, 2021 meeting. This policy has been reviewed by the Labor Attorney for input.
Staff proposes implementation of this voluntary person pronoun sharing policy. The use of pronouns, phrases that signal one’s gender identification and the way one wishes to be referred to, have become increasingly common in email signature blocks and on workplace business cards and name tags. The goal is to provide permission to share one’s personal pronouns as part of an employee’s “business footprint” and to provide guidance on personal pronoun usage. Sharing and using one’s personal pronouns creates a welcoming space for others to share theirs, as some may initially be reluctant to do so for fear of lack of acceptance. It makes it easier for transgender and nonbinary people to share the pronouns they want others to use when referring to them. Transgender and nonbinary people have historically been the subject of marginalization and intentional misgendering.
Alternative Options:
None.
Financial Impacts: None.
Tentative Timelines: Staff recommends consideration of approval of Personal Pronoun Sharing Administrative Policy to be effective October 5, 2021.