Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm not sure if this is deserving of a new topic, but does anyone know Walmart's official stance on bathroom usage for transsexuals, of if there is a state-specific policy for Oregon? Currently, I am using the family restroom, and was told that I had to use the female bathroom if the former was being used. This isn't too much of a problem since I work at night and the bathrooms in the back are usually locked, but so is the family restroom, often enough. Am I being cheated, here? ( does anyone know? )

   Walmart does what Walmart wants to do.  They don't care about what is right or wrong.  I seem to recall Walmart terminating employees who transitioned on the job.  Of course they got sued but that's merely a minor annoyance to them.  I personally despise that company.  Walmart was by far the worst company I have ever worked for as far as how they treat employees.  They claim "diversity" as one of thier major hiring points.  The truth is they are as far from accepting of diverse employees as the Vatican. 

  I don't know your point of transition, whether you are full time or transitioning on the job, but my advice is tread lightly with Walmart if you intend to keep working there.  If you push them they will push back much, much harder so be prepared to fight.  Of course all of this is based on my experience with them (non gender related) and the fact that the store I worked at is located in a predominately "redneck" area.  However, I've heard many stories from TG friends who were treated very unfairly at thier stores around the US because of being TG.   Who knows...maybe it's different in Oregan.

  Can you tell I don't like them? :P 

Hi Arias, unfortunately Oregon does not have any non-discrimination laws based on gender identity or sexual orientation.  There are only nine states in the US which have specific laws that protect transsexual individuals:  California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Washington.

Please see this link (http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Your_Community&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=14821) for additional information on current laws in the US.


See this link for current laws in Oregon (http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Oregon1&CONTENTID=21086&TEMPLATE=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=67)


tinkerbell :icon_chick:

hi i agree with Brandi..
sad state of affairs..
Walmarts i like for shopping to work there, a horror i never have but i just read a lawsuit in the paper them settling overtime pay and you mean to tell me this big $$$ company did it wrong and did not catch it after hundreds of suits were filed individually? Ya right?
so the diversity for ->-bleeped-<-, well who would of guessed they'd be jack-asses?????
so sorry to have to hear my hug and support! :'(
Ricki

Brandi. I haven't begun transitioning outside of displaying it through clothes. I have already come to terms mentally with the fact that when I do begin transitioning for real, I'll have to look for a different job.

Heh. Overtime pay. We watched a video on that. They claim to have reported themselves, but I don't know. :)

Quote from: Arias on January 31, 2007, 11:45:02 AM
...if there is a state-specific policy for Oregon?

Not a state one yet, but there ARE some city ones.  I'm actually in Oregon at this very moment in a city where transgendered ARE protected.

Melissa

  I recall Walmart forcing us to clock out an hour early for daylight savings time and yet we were not allowed to claim the hour lost when it rolled around again.  I thought it was pretty petty at first but when I did the math and multiplied one hour of not being paid once a year for every single employee of Walmart I realized that they were saving a HUGE amount of money. 

  I recall injuring my wrist one day at work and being told by a supervisor that I was required to go have it checked out by clinic contracted by Walmart.  It was a minor injury and I had no intention of leaving work or changing anything I did until I was ordered to the doctor.  I went and they said it was a minor sprain just as I thought it was.  When I returned to work I was called into the store managers office who informed me that he thought I faked the injury and if anything similar happened again I would be fired immediately. 

  Aww...such fond memories......

I hate Walmart. I would not work there if it was the last job. The way they treat workers......As for shopping there I have had some very unpleasant expereances even without going feme. This big $$$$$ company is so cheap in everything. And the quality of the product leaves much to be desired. You take back something that failed and they give you a runaround.... >:(  Boycott Walmart. Gl;ad I dont have any near me... Just venting a little..


Linda Ann

Love being female :angel:

What city is that, Melissa?

Walmart's not too bad. I don't want to work there for the rest of my life, though.

There's just something about a store using greeters that rubs me the wrong way.

Quote from: Arias on February 02, 2007, 11:01:57 PM
What city is that, Melissa?

Portland is the one I was referring to, doing a quick web search, here's a list of places in Oregon that are protected:

Multnomah County
Benton County
Salem
Portland
Beaverton
Hillsboro
Bend
Ashland
Lake Oswego
Eugene
Lincoln City

Melissa

Eugene? *brightens* Could you link me to that source?

Well, here's the reference: http://basicrights.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_basicrights_archive.html

However, I'm not so sure anymore.  Maybe Sheila could shed some more light on this since that's where she lives too.

Melissa

Quote from: Kaelin on February 03, 2007, 03:59:44 AM
There's just something about a store using greeters that rubs me the wrong way.

lol, me too. I get uncomfortable when there's some smiling fool waiting for me at the door. :D

Quote from: Linda Ann on February 02, 2007, 08:11:52 PM
I hate Walmart. I would not work there if it was the last job. The way they treat workers......As for shopping there I have had some very unpleasant expereances even without going feme. This big $$$$$ company is so cheap in everything. And the quality of the product leaves much to be desired. You take back something that failed and they give you a runaround.... >:(  Boycott Walmart. Gl;ad I dont have any near me... Just venting a little..


Linda Ann

Love being female :angel:

LOL ;D  at least someone had the ovaries to say it!


tinkerbell :icon_chick:

Ah, thank you Melissa.

Greeters kind of creep me out too sometimes. It's such a boring job, and I generally don't like to be talked to when I shop for groceries. ( and how are they a higher pay grade than stockers? We do all the dirty work. hmph )

Quote from: Linda Ann on February 02, 2007, 08:11:52 PMI hate Walmart.
...
The way they treat workers...

... is worse than how any other large cooperate store (or any sized franchise) works how? They chew you up and spit you out. Welcome to corporate america where only the bottom dollar matters.

Quote from: Linda Ann on February 02, 2007, 08:11:52 PM
As for shopping there I have had...

... no problem at all. Including how I normally look, which is not exactly 'proper'.

Quote from: Linda Ann on February 02, 2007, 08:11:52 PM...
And the quality of the product...

... seems just fine to me.


^*shrug*


Perception is everything I suppose.

I am sorry you've had rousy experiences Linda.

Melissa, thank you for sending Arias to my address. In Eugene we don't have any protection for Gender Identity. Basic Rights Oregon was behind the Lane Gender Task Force who pulled the proposed ordinance off the table. We had it in our grasp, it was going to City Council and it would have been approved like all the other ones around the state. They were afraid of it going before a vote and jeapardizing the SB1000 which got pulled and now a very watered down SB500 that will be going before the Senate this year. I wrote to Arias, but at the time didn't know where he worked.
Sheila

Walmart has driven American manufacturing to China.  It bankrupted Rubbermaid because they refused to go offshore for example.  They've managed to close thousands of small retail and speicialized stores across the country. Think of specialized bicycle stores. No, you can't even purchase a quality machine locally anymore because they've been driven out. Our local fabric stores have been decimated. Walmart offers low quality goods with few choices.

Walmart pays their workers squat and are meager when it comes to benefits.  They've pushed cheap in every aspect.  Many families can afford to shop nowhere else.... they've lost their purchasing power.  Yes, the net loss of jobs here in the country comes to roost right at the family level.  

As we push more jobs out, reduce the family income, and create a net loss for opportunity, there will come a time, when even Walmart will become an expensive place to shop.  Where will we go from there?

Much of the reason we are complaining here is that Walmart will not hire well qualified managers to run their operations.  They come at too high a price.  Proper training costs money and time.  The net result is that many of the management team are ill prepared to deal with real personal issues.  They have only been trained to push money through their outlets.

Walmart represents everything that is wrong with our society.  It is corporate greed pushed to the limit. I'm sure Sam Walton would be so ashamed of what has become of his once family friendly business.

My husband and I refuse to shop at Walmart.  Our boycott seems so meaningless.

Cindi

For what it matters, I'm not buying from there either.

Maybe others will get tired of WM.

I worked for wal-mart and I transitioned in place.

Their team of lawyers made sure to let me know that if I used a women's restroom prior to SRS that I would be immediately fired.  That was in 98 but I doubt that they are any friendlier now.  I did know of a couple of stealth TS women who had no issues, even when one ended up being outed.

That whole wash about finding a gliche in their accounting and correcting the over time pay is a crock.. Please.... >:(
You gotta figure with all the previous lawsuits and threats fired their way, they either got caught or coffed up to avoid penalties?  A lady locally at Walmart's said she got a .90 in her pay for the ot offset?
agghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
there's not a lot of choice around here which sort of makes not going there harder too?
I shop there but agree the greeters are nothing more than unarmed security looking for shoplifters?
Seriously?  when you do a return they sticker everything and the person says like you're a retard go to customer serivice like where else would you go???
Agggghhhhhhh
Heck there could be a walmarts "i hate" thread that would span the globe!
Ricki

Cindi, we have a lot of bike stores over here! But perhaps I just know where all of them are since I'm a biking fool.

QuoteWalmart pays their workers squat and are meager when it comes to benefits.

I can't deny the benefits, but I get paid pretty well for having no experience. They have pay caps now, though.

QuoteTheir team of lawyers made sure to let me know that if I used a women's restroom prior to SRS that I would be immediately fired.

*gulp* Really? I never pushed it beyond what the managers told me. I don't enjoy making waves when it deals with me personally. But I use the mens room off the clock. No one's fired me yet. :)

QuoteI shop there but agree the greeters are nothing more than unarmed security looking for shoplifters?

Well, I don't know about any other walmart stores, but ours doesn't have asset protection employees. So all the help we can get is great. ;)

But, okay. Now that we've all decided that walmart seriously sucks. What are other, trans-friendly places to work?

QuoteBut, okay. Now that we've all decided that walmart seriously sucks. What are other, trans-friendly places to work?

Well, I work for myself, so the boss is very trans-friendly. Although he can be a bit of a jerk about giving me Fridays off.

Dennis

LOL@Dennis  :icon_lol:

Dennis, I hate bosses like that.  Ya ought to do something about that guy.   :P

Arias,
  There are a lot of Trans friendly place here in Eugene. By the way, Wal-Mart does pay just as good as any family owned place and in some instances you can get benifits too. All the family run businesses don't have benifits, at least not in Eugene/Springfield. Wal-Mart does employ a lot of people and they do pay above minimum in their wages. I don't think that is half bad. Just watch your time card and make sure you get paid for what you work. In trying to take advantage of your wages, I have run across that in a lot of businesses, large and small. And in different states.
Sheila

DOes anyone know anyone who's tried to transition at Fred Meyer/QFC/Krogers? Just curious. I haven't found any info pertaining to that company about transsexuals who have successfully (or unsuccessfully) transitioned on the job yet.

Knew one older m2f who transitioned at Krogers.  Upper echelon made all of the right noises but a really horrible assistant manager made things really bad.  Lost contact with her years ago, no idea how it ever worked out.

Okay well #1jealous of Dennis since he "knows" his boss intimately.....
Was just at the god forsaken store yesterday and the lovely greeter could barely audible welcome to walmarts?  I hear that coming in as Germam americam lingo like spread'em sucker what are you smuggling into the store.. :icon_2gun:
bthe barely audible thank you for shopping at walmrts aka spread'em sucker cameras are watching what did you steal................
This greeter thing is a big front imho for just watching for pilferage! :police:
ricki

Quote from: Ricki on February 08, 2007, 07:46:22 PM
This greeter thing is a big front imho for just watching for pilferage! :police:

I don't think you're very far off at all with that statement.

Melissa

Lane, I transitioned at Fred Meyer. They are more than welcoming. They don't want anyone who will be coming in one day as a female and the next as a male. Yes, I did have some problems at first, but I had been with them for over 20 years. I had some pull. I was a manager and I did have some that were under me who would try and stab me in the back. I got through it and when I had the chance I did retire from there. My wife still works with Fred Meyer and they are all very understanding. Instead of a gold watch, I got a very nice gold necklace and pendant. I'm still welcomed by all and the ones that didn't like me, well they are gone or they have never got anywhere and that was in 2002, that I retired.
Sheila
Lane, by the way, my wife is an HR person for Fred Meyer and she has hired some trans people.
Sheila

Aww, I just love the old Walmart, "heaven or hell" argument.  Feelings are so strong it is almost a religious thing.

First off, let me say that I don't work for Walmart, have no stock in Walmart and really couldn't care less about them one way or another.  I do shop there quite frequently, and have been treated about the same as any similar store (Target, K-Mart, whatever) and have never had a problem taking something back (which I have done lots of times...especially when buying ladies clothes there).

Greeters:  These old geezers/geezerettes serve a function as they (supposedly) tag return merchandise coming in and catching (maybe) shoplifters trying to sneak out merchandise with security tags.  As far as them talking to you when you come in...do you say something to the stocker at the grocery store as you pass them?  Same thing.  Besides, if you are 75 years old, trying to live on Social Security, there aren't a lot of other job prospects.

Management:  They are the best you can get for minimum wage, and are on par with most other department stores...some are good, some aren't.  The one thing you can be sure of is that if a manager does enough things wrong to cost the store money, they are history.

Putting "Mom and Pop" stores out of business:  So?  I dare say that Kroger, Albertson's and Ralph's have put a lot of Mom and Pop grocery stores out of business.  I would submit that Payless and Famous Footwear has put a lot of Mom and Pop shoe stores out of business.  Same thing for Home Depot and Lowes.  You have a choice...shop at the big corporate stores or shop at the little shops and potentially pay a lot more for the same product.

Continuing with that same line of reasoning...it was not Wally world that caused manufacturing jobs to move offshore, it is the labor costs of producing something in America vs. a sweat shop in BFE, and the unwillingness of the American public to pay more (sometimes a lot more) for the same thing just because it has a US Flag sticker on the bottom.  Sad to say, we don't care who made it as long as the quality is similar and the price is cheaper.

Is Walmart my favorite place?  No.  Are the the Devil?  No.  Are they pretty much the same as any other large corporation, be it American, European or elsewhere?  Yeah.  Do they have some serious problems in how they run the company?  Yep, they sure do.  Are some of their managers idiots, bigots and TG-UNfriendly?  Yes.  Then again, I can get treated poorly anywhere or treated amazingly well anywhere...it all depends on who you are dealing with and how you react to them.

As for me, I'm boycotting Kohl's because the only time you don't get ripped off is when you catch an item on sale.  I'm also boycotting Ben and Jerry's because they don't deliver like Pizza Hut does.  While we're at it, I'm going to boycott my local city water because it doesn't taste as good as Deja Blue.  After a few of these type comments, the whole boycott thing seems a little silly...but if you feel strongly about not shopping somewhere, don't.

....Laurie

Well, walmart doesn't have asset protection in the store to watch people, so they have to have some form of detection. Eesh. People shouldn't steal anyway, even if it is from Walmart. Plus, the supercenters aren't that bad. They're just like every other store.

But I would also like to add that greeters are told specifically they can't follow you out of the doors if you stole something, or stop you. Only the managers can do that.

Thank you, Laurie.

I don't hate walmart, and I really didn't want this to turn into a walmart hating thread. I love the people I work with; they're awesome folks and some of them are now good friends! ( and almost to the point where they're good enough to trust with my gender secret ) The company is just that, a company. Every company will screw someone over, somewhere. Because the whole system is flawed. It's not walmart's fault. They're just the newest, biggest thing and everyone loves to hate them. But I think every point has been covered at least twice, so let's stop hijacking the topic and help some people with TS work resources, okay?

There are some things they've presumably done that are illegal (not paying for OT, discriminating against women).  However, the point Arias makes is for the most part true.  Most of the "issues" are not illegal, and a good chunk of businesses are simply going to bend the rules as much as they can.  Yet it is still ultimately their right to do so, because they are competing against other businesses that also have the right to perform the same practices.... until there's a law made to punish or penalize the undesired conduct.  So if the Walmart discussion is going to continue (outside of the TG issue), I would personally recommend the Politics forum.

That's all.

I'll add i think i said it overall i like the walmart's..
Sort of one stop shopping really just that simple it could be a ricki-mart and be as good or bad?
I do get a gas out of the greeters-watchdogs-instore security-senior citizen co-ops-whatever we calle'm.... This one older lady (ya we'all live in a smaller town here abouts) i swear knows me by name and yet every time i do a retrun she imbeds the darn sticker on the item like it was going to france (which ensues a sticker removing party at the cs counter) i always say easy sweetie we're not travelling overseas, she quizically looks at me.. then will kindly instruct me where to go, like i could walk that path to the cs desk in my sleep.. lol
they had a darn good deal on batteries 20 AA for 9.99 that's pretty reasonable..
that's it ricki's shopping tip for the day-alas what Laurie needs with all those AA batteries is beyond me... :icon_blah:
anyway
ricki

ok first let me start off by saying I do work at a Walmart in ohio. i haven't worked there very long but almost a year. when i first started, i wore the typical male clothes, actually it was quite funny, one of the first days i was there, my wife and i both were working at the time and they were slowing switching from vests to the uniforms we wear now. i was wearing both my name tag and my wife's and it was on one of those twisty clip-on lanyard things. i didn't notice it had turned around and it said my wife's name and while as i was at the morning meeting a girl noticed my hair and asked about the new girl and commented that she liked my hair. i wasn't offended but i almost got in trouble, but back to topic. recently, (prob 4-5 months) ago. i started wearing my bras and pulling my hair back in a ponytail with neutral hair ties, but i have gotten braver, and now wear girls boots, pants, and i wear scrunchies to work. No one has said a word. they all respect me for who i am from my store manager on down. my co-manager is gay but doesn't make it known to everyone and i respect him for being who he is. i am not saying all walmarts are like this but so far every one i have been to in oh has been quite friendly to me. i went shopping for the first time for groceries as a woman just me and my son, nobody gave me a second look other than cashier but she never said anything to my face. also when i started putting my hair up and dressing a little more feminine i have had a lot of the women speak to me that i would never have the courage to really speak to...you know say like if i was single and looking for a date(most of them are married and I love my wife to the world's end). yes i am defending my company and i have every right to. i feel it is one of the best jobs i have ever had, when i need a day off for my kids or i need to switch hours..etc. etc, etc. i have never had a problem. i never got the kind of treatment i got working in a factory where they want you working your ass off 365/24/7 and tough ->-bleeped-<- if you have kids and a family, they want you there on holidays or they can fire you because you were scheduled...walmart here in ohio has been quite wonderful to me and my family..at the present i wouldn't really want to work anywhere else ;D