On Friday August 31, 2012 I wore a female cotton top to work.
From what the Executive Director had lead me to believe was that it was okay and in fact a good thing for Goodwill that I would transition at work. She had told me several times that she wanted me to move forward but to do it at my own pace.
That morning I had a few people that seemed to be unease with my choice of attire.
During the day I talked to most of the people, which I am supervisor over, as I check the parts they had worked on. Conversations like what they were planning for the long weekend. What I was planning. Before very lone most of them seemed to relax; I believe they realizing that I was still the same person.
One person I singled out and ask to come to my desk. He has a mental disability and had been puzzled about my physical changes including my eyebrows and even my fingernail polish. As I began to tell him about my physical birth defect, that I was actual a female and was correcting the defeat. In the process of sharing this the contract shop manager (my boss) hold at me to send the mental disabled man back to his seat.
I also talked to other clients while helping some of the other supervisors checking parts. They may or may not have been upset with my attire but I did not notice any anxiety toward me. From what I observer most of the upset people were not the physically or mentally disabled by hired employees and the Contract Shop Manager.
As the day worn on all seem well.
On Thursday September 3, 2012, in the afternoon, I was told I would have a meeting with the Executive Director and the Contract Shop Manager right after I finished my work for the day. In the late morning of the same day I was asked by my boss, the Contract Shop Manager to give the Executive Director and copy of all of the computer passwords. I complied and she had a copy in the morning. My other job at Goodwill is PC technician.
At about 5:15 pm I was ushered into the conference room by my boss and the door was shut. I was nervous and it is very emotional even to remember but I will try to share the conversation in the meeting that lasted about 15 minutes.
I was then told by my boss, the Contract Shop Manager, that I had upset the shop, employees and clients, with my attire on Friday August 31, 2012. That it had actually reduced the productivity of the shop.
I admitted that I had noticed that some people seem a little upset on Friday and had not know that the top show off my body as much as it did. Because of that I had went back to wearing the baggy Goodwill t-shirts.
The Executive Director shared that she too was concerned about the productivity and that she was considering moving me off the floor and maybe to a job in a store. She ask about my transitioning plans and for information or a plan to help the clients accept my transitioning. The Executive Director went on to say that of course the employees would have to accept me. I shared that I was already living full time as a women and had to live this way for a year before I would qualified for surgery. The Contract Shop Manager said that the clients would never accept me.
The Executive Director said that if it continued to disrupt the shop that I would be moved off the floor and to a store. I said that I would not wear that top in the shop again. My boss said, "I never wanted to see you in a dress." I then began to speak but he cut me off and said, "in the shop I mean".
He also told me that they had to call in the CMH councilor for the mentally imparted person that I had took aside to talk to and that I did not have the knowledge to share with him. I was shock and said that I was sorry and only tried to help him to understand.
The Executive Director went on to say that they wanted to know my future plans. My boss added that he would need time to train another person. I told them my tentative plans and that I would inform them of any progress.
I was also ask about my name change and how they would deal with it.
My response was that I would turn in a name change and needed my paychecks with that legal name on them. I added that as far as what people would call me I said they could call me Jac (Jack) or Jacie (Jackie) I was not going to insisted on either of the names.
My boss, The Contract Shop Manager, told me that I was a good worker and that he had no problem with it. My boss also told me that they had been very good to me.
He also said to be careful, that what I was doing was dangerous for me, with the kind of people that are here.
This morning I turned in a request for a document of the drop of productivity that happened last Friday the 31 and caused the special dress code. I later found out that the numbers had not been compiled until late this morning, Friday September 7, 2012. Also the CMH councilor for the mentally disabled man I had talked to on Friday, about my transition, wanted to talked to me, his supervisor, before a counseling session with the man.
We talked about how he was behaving and than he told me that if any of such and such happened to call him right away. I shared that I was transsexual and ask if I had I upset the man the Friday before. He said no I hadn't. The CMH counselor said that I had acted properly and that it was the right thing for me to do to help the man to understand and not be upset.
About a 15 minutes before I was to go home today, September
7, 2012, I was told that the Executive Director wanted to talk to me right away. I step into the conference room. Both my boss and the Executive Director walked into the room and the door was closed. The Director ask what the note she had received from me was about because it was confusing to her. She said that they had not imposed a special dress code for me. I said that I want documentation of the reduction of productivity last Friday, August 30th 2012. And that I would like a documentation for my records, for my psychologist and that I would share it with the trans community. I went on to say it would be good for education purposes because of the diverse workforce we have.
My boss, the Shop Manager, ask wasn't it obvious the disruption you caused? Didn't you know that that is why I let the shop out at 4pm and hour earlier than normal because of the reduction in production? (DO realize that it was Friday of the Labor Day Weekend and we all had believed that was why we were able to leave early.)
I said that I had noticed a little uneasiness, and felt I had relieved most of it very quickly, but no seen any real reduction of productivity. He counter that I must have seen the numbers that day because I always recorded them. My response was yes I had and that I do know what the normal numbers, count of finished parts, the people I supervise are on a daily bases. I had seen no said reduction in productivity. I went on to say that I had noticed that he had been upset by my outfit and that I was sorry that he had been upset. My boss said nothing more.
The Executive Director said that she now understood what I had asked for and dismissed me from the meeting.
I am hurt and feel discriminated against.
Do plan on leaving this palce as so as I get another job.
