 A picture I used to introduce the "new me" |
For most transsexuals, transitioning at work is by far the scariest part of
the process. Until recently, it was quite common for transsexuals to lose
their jobs as a result, and it still happens, but thankfully this dire
situation is becoming far less common. Many states and local governments now
offer strict legal protections, and most large companies (and many smaller
companies), realizing the value
of diversity and recognizing basic human rights, now attempt to make the
process work. Still, despite the improvements of recent years, the thought
of losing employment is always high on the list of a transsexual's concerns.
In my case, I work for a large company which has progressive policies in this regard and has a good track record. At the division where I work, I am not the first transsexual who has transitioned on the job, so the company has some experience. As my story shows, as of my first day at work as a woman, my transition went very smoothly. Human Resources and management did basically everything right, and co-workers were generally quite supportive. I hope other transsexuals have as good an experience as I did. If other employers would handle this as well as mine, transsexuals would have little reason to fear this step of the process. I must warn others, however, that not all transitions go this smoothly. Some companies are still living in the past and are run by people who simply do not wish to deal with this. Even in a jurisdiction with good legal protections, such a company may find reasons to get rid of a transsexual. Some industries are better than others; in general, white-collar industries are better (although I wonder if an upper manager would be able to do this without difficulty), but certain blue-collar industries, such as truck driving, seem to handle this reasonably well. Also, much of the burden is on the transsexual. It helps to go in with the right attitude and be considerate of others. Prior experience living as a woman outside of work helps a great deal; in my case, I had more an a year of experience behind me. It is best to make all of the fashion mistakes and learn from them before transitioning at work. Working on general passability issues, such as the voice or the facial hair, depending on the severity of the individual's situation, is vital. It is much easier for others to accept somebody who is reasonably passable than it is to accept somebody who appears to have no chance of ever passing. A willingness to compromise and a willingness to be patient with people also helps - it is important to realize that people do not adjust to this overnight, and they may slip up and use the old name fairly often for months after the change. My experience is that, on average, it takes people about six months before they habitually use the new name most of the time. Some people take much longer, and there will always be a few who do not even try. A little common sense and a lot of patience will go a long way towards making this process easier. Those who lack one or both of these characteristics will have a very rough ride. I hope my story helps others make it through this process. My transition has gone well (so far) and my method in pursuing it may work for others. |