A trade body has been slammed for "pandering to woke dogma" after telling insurers to avoid using the phrase "man the phones" and opt for a more gender-inclusive phrase instead.
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has published a guide for using inclusive language, which urges insurers to instead say "attend the phones".
The list was published by the body to help establish a more "welcoming" environment and "galvanise inclusion".
The guidance has also urged insurers to avoid using the phrase "pensioner", claiming the term implies “that people of certain age groups or generations are a homogenous group, failing to recognise people’s individuality”.
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has published a guide for using inclusive language
|TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
The CII advised its members to instead say "mature individual" or "senior citizen" in its place.
The guide also told insurers to steer clear of using the phrase "workmanship" and instead opt for "quality of work" or "skills".
The term "Christian name" has been given the thumbs down, with "first name" or "given name" recommended "out of respect".
The use of "surname" is also not advised as it could be “confusing to Asian groups who place their family name first”.
The guidance has also urged insurers to avoid using the phrase 'pensioner' (file photo)
| GETTYDirector of Don't Divide Us Alka Sehgal Cuthbert slammed the trade body's guidance for attempting to block "everyday words which are meaningful for many ordinary people".
The campaign group chief added: “Changing them on the dictates of a minority excludes most of the population – the opposite of their stated aim.
“Does the Chartered Insurance Institute need a crash course in common sense?”
Free Speech Union director Lord Young of Action accused the CII of "pandering to woke dogma" and told the trade body to "man up".
WOKE MADNESS - READ THE LATEST:
- Hospital at heart of trans court case admits staff SHOULD use toilets based on biological sex
- 'Come on lads' is an offensive phrase and should be avoided, footballers told
- Veteran tears into 'DEI disaster' for the army as women told to 'put up and shut up'
- Neo-Marxist 'white guilt' novel pulled from school after parents fury
Lord Young of Action accused the CII of 'pandering to woke dogma' and told the trade body to 'man up'
| GETTYIn the section discussing language surrounding "sexual orientation", insurers have been told to use the gender-neutral phrases of “parents, guardians and caregivers” instead of "mother and father".
The term “invite your boyfriend/husband” has also been warned against in favour of “invite your spouse/partner”.
The CII has advised insurers to not “assume heterosexuality as the norm” and therefore adopt "sexual health clinic" in favour of "family planning clinic".
The guidance has also encouraged speakers to swap out “welcome ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” for “welcome to friends and colleagues”.
It comes just days after it was revealed that Berks and Bucks FA told footballers to avoid using the phrase "come on lads" on the pitch as it may be considered offensive.
In its inclusive language guide, players were advised to use the gender-neutral "come on team" instead.
The guide noted that the word "guys" should be avoided in team warm-up chats, instead recommending that "everyone" is said instead.
Chairman of the Common Sense group of Conservative MPs Sir John Hayes labelled the 26-page document as "deeply worrying".
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
More From GB News