So I told HR months ago that I was transitioning. My contact there knows that March 6th is "T-day" and I've asked him to make an announcement at "a pretty high up manager's meeting" on Feb 21st about my transition. Today he setup a meeting for next week to discuss "stuff".
The invite included a 10 page word document titled "Gender Transition Guidelines". I thought it was for me where in fact it was for everyone else.
The last section was interesting:
On the first day of transition, the employee's manager should take these steps, much as he or she would for a new or transferred employee:
1) Issue a new company identification badge with a new name & photo. (I'm going to wait until I pass a little better)
2) Place a new nameplate on the door/desk... (got that, and I'll post it at 4:30 Thursday March 2nd)
3) update any organization charts, mailing lists and other references to the new name. (Yes please do!)
4) Issue paperwork for the HR employee database, effective the first day of transition, to change the following:
a) new name
b) change the gender marker
c) update the e-mail address if it contains the old name (I'll do this one)
5) Manager should plan to be on site with the worker the first day to make introductions, support the worker, ensure respectful and inclusive treatment and make sure that work returns to normal after a few hours. (I work in a cubical farm - no one sees people very often.)
One thing that the document talked A LOT about was "time off for medical purposes."
Managers should provide sufficient flexibility to meet the employee's needs for appointments. Time
off for medical procedures is to be treated as other scheduled medically necessary procedures.
Very interesting document to say the least. It talks about restrooms - "If employees have concerns with the transsexual co-worker's usage of a restroom... the employee with the concern may be permitted to use a different single-occupancy facility." Basically if YOU don't like it then YOU use the 'single stall' restroom. It's your problem, not mine. Which I think is an interesting solution to the non-issue.
I'm starting to get nervous - this kinda makes it more real. After 50+ years... finally!
