Corporate hijabs to encourage diversity, inclusiveness in the workplace

A growing number of businesses are expanding their work uniforms to include religious head wear. Westpac Bank is the latest to design corporate hijabs for their employees.

Westpac Bank employees will now be able to wear corporate hijabs as part of their uniform in a wider trend to integrate religious head wear into the workplace. 

Australian fashion designer Carla Zampatti has been recruited to redesign the Westpac uniforms and a key feature is the inclusion of a corporate hijab.

“The hijab itself will be navy blue with a charcoal ‘W,’ so it will be quite subtle,” Westpac inclusion and diversity officer, Ainslie van Onselen told SBS.

“The feedback we’re getting from our staff is really supportive and very, very positive.”

Manija Akbari has been working as a teller at Westpac for five years, spending her own money on headscarves that match her uniform.

Ms Akbari told SBS she’s excited for the launch of the revamped corporate design in April.

“Now I’m not going to look different, I’m going to look a part of the team,” she said.

Westpac bank teller Manija Akbari wearing one of their new corporate hijabs. Source: SBS News

“It makes me feel very valued.”

Westpac’s initiative is part of a wider trend to help employees feel supported and included, regardless of their faith. The Commonwealth Bank and Optus have also introduced corporate hijabs.

“In the end the hijab is just a piece of fabric that a Muslim woman wears on her head,” Hijab House director Tarik Houchar told SBS.

“So it should be a fabric that matches and blends in with the uniform of the company.”