New transgender guidance has been branded as "woke" as civil servants have been told to "think" of transgender colleagues as women.
New policies issued by watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office, implies that calling employees by their preferred pronoun is not enough.
According to advice, staff can show their support for trans colleagues by "thinking of the person as being the gender that they want you to think of them as."
It also claims that transgender women – those who are born male – go through the menopause.
New transgender guidance has been branded as "woke" as civil servants have been told to "think" of transgender colleagues as women
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The policies have been criticised by some MPs and campaigners.
"The ICO is supposed to be responsible for protecting people's privacy," Toby Young, director of the Free Speech Union told The Daily Mail.
"How can it be taken seriously in that role if it's dictating to its employees what they can and can't think?
"Talk about invasion of privacy! This is like something out of [George Orwell's novel] 1984, telling people they must not commit thought crime."
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The ICO's Trans Policy and Guidance says its employees should "be guided by your trans colleague and their preferences" and they "must call a person by their chosen or preferred name."
Tory MP Lia Nici said: "Why do we need organisations like the ICO to produce guidance to tell people what they should be thinking?
"We already have protection for everyone in the workplace since the Equality Act was introduced in 2010."
The document states: "ICO staff can support trans colleagues or individuals who are transitioning by... Thinking of the person as being the gender that they want you to think of them as."
According to advice, staff can show their support for trans colleagues by 'thinking of the person as being the gender that they want you to think of them as'
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Elsewhere it adds: "The menopause is a natural hormone transition that every woman and some trans men, trans women and non-binary people will experience."
An ICO spokesman said: "Treating everyone with dignity, respect and compassion is fundamental to the ICO's work to uphold and protect information rights.
"Our policies and guidance reflect this commitment to inclusivity for employees in our workplace and to all those we serve."
