Matt Kailey
Transgender & Transsexual Issues, Information, and Opinion
Ask Matt: Dealing with a Transitioning Coworker
August 18, 2011 by Matt Kailey
http://tranifesto.com/2011/08/18/ask-matt-dealing-with-a-transitioning-coworker/ (http://tranifesto.com/2011/08/18/ask-matt-dealing-with-a-transitioning-coworker/)
Question Mark- A reader writes: "I have a coworker who, over the course of the four years we have worked together, made the transition from a man to a post-surgery woman.
"I have tried to be supportive of each phase of the transition, but my coworker has made it increasingly difficult. Each phase was a surprise – no notice, no explanation, no communication on what was happening.
He missed one option on this one that should be tried as well. The writer mentions that the transsexual is a co-worker, but never once mentions that he went to the common supervisor of both he and the trans woman. I was a group manager for over 10 years by the time I retired last month and the situations described in this artlcle were MY direct business long before they hit our HR unit 368 miles north of me.
Luckily, the California state agency I worked for HAD given all of the department managers at my level training in how to handle the issues presented here. I was on the spot for the issues mentioned here, and I never had one of my employees transition or come out G or L. The issues show how boring we T folks actually are if we can't come up with anything other than what a well trained supervisor can deal with.
I personally came out when I announced my retirement after 33 years and did not transition on the job, but it was good knowing what my manager knew to do with me anyway.