UK Banks and Insurers Await EHRC Guidance After 2024 Supreme Court Ruling on Single-Sex Spaces

None of the 15 banks, insurers, consultancies and building societies examined by Sex Matters could confirm whether access to single-sex facilities was restricted to people of one biological gender, the organisation reported following its investigation into company policies.

The UK Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that “man” and “woman” refer to biological sex under the Equality Act 2010. In light of the ruling, employers are obliged to ensure single-sex spaces are used exclusively in line with biological sex.

A majority of the examined companies said they were waiting for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to publish its revised code of practice before making changes. Coventry Building Society explicitly allows workers to use single-sex areas based on the gender they identify as. HSBC operates under vague guidance on single-sex facilities.

“Should workplace guidance be issued, we will review and update our position accordingly,” a NatWest spokesman said. An Admiral spokesman stated that policies and procedures will remain the same while awaiting revisions from the EHRC.

The Co-operative Bank still permits workers to use bathrooms based on self-identified gender.

Sex Matters heard from anonymous employees at some of the named companies. Female staff at some companies reported feeling angry, unvalued and cynical.

Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education and Equalities Minister, delayed new guidance on women-only spaces last month. The former EHRC chair submitted an updated code of practice to the minister in early September. Baroness Falkner headed the Equality and Human Rights Commission until November.