The big announcement went out today about my transition at work. Most everything I needed to change (email, phone message, etc) has been completed. However one thing we discussed was having my gender marker changed to female at work and today they told me I need proof that I fully transitioned.
I was under the impression that changing the gender flag where you work is common practice. Is this not the case?
In any event, in Philadelphia there is a law that deals with transgender in the work place. Below is one quote:
QuoteWhat type of documentation is appropriate to request before allowing an employee to act in accordance with their gender identity at work?
None. Because all employees are covered by the ordinance-- regardless of whether they
3
have, or intend to change their legal documentation or medical sex --there is no legitimate
reason for an employer to request legal or medical documentation of an employee. Requiring this type of documentation constitutes discrimination, and is prohibited by the Ordinance.
This prohibition on requiring documentation extends to employer requests for
documentation prior to allowing an employee to use a gender identity-appropriate restroom or locker room. It would not, however, preclude an employer from requesting proper legal documentation before altering an employee's name or sex designation on official records, such as tax withholding.
I believe this document is meaning 'official' records such as government records but my employer is calling my work record an official record.
I am pretty confused. I would not think I would have to show proof of surgery from the law quote above but they didn't mention government type records or your own 'official record of the day'.
:(
The way I read it, the official records are indicated by the example, Tax withholding.
Is there an ombudsman or adjudicator you can refer back to?
Though, it appears that this bit of stubbornness may be a power play. In which case, if it isn't causing you any problems in your day to day relationships or life, might be better to just ignore.
Quote from: spacial on March 08, 2010, 12:52:45 PM
The way I read it, the official records are indicated by the example, Tax withholding.
Is there an ombudsman or adjudicator you can refer back to?
Though, it appears that this bit of stubbornness may be a power play. In which case, if it isn't causing you any problems in your day to day relationships or life, might be better to just ignore.
They are using my transition as a launching pad to implement protocols on how to deal with transitions here so I really need to know if my marker can be changed or not. Sometimes people think they know but actually don't. A personal friend of mine is an ombudsman here. I may run into her this afternoon. I also have someone else working on this.
I am hoping to get feedback from others if they were able to get their gender marker changed at work. I am under the impression that it is common to do this.
That seems the best approach.
Keep us posted on how you get on.
It's nice to hear you're a trail blazer for the cause. :)
The only thing that I can think of is that they don't wish to deal with the SSA regulation where they will receive a non-match letter with the gender. When I transitioned on the job, they changed everything. Including gender.
Here in Oregon, I had changed my D/L because of the state law. So when I changed things at work they changed the letter and if they received the aforementioned letter they may not have dealt with it, because it was not something that they could just ignore.
It seems a little strange and perhaps impertanent that tax authorities and others should be so concerned about what people have between their legs.
Why they need to keep a record of our sex seems as irrelevant as a record of our skin colour.
Quote from: Valeriedances on March 08, 2010, 08:48:06 PM
Hi Dana. My employer (Fortune 100 company) changed my gender in their system when i transitioned at work in November. They changed it at the same time as the name change. So, once we renewed our insurance, as far as the insurance company is concerned, I'm female. That could end up being complicated if I wasn't planning to have surgery as soon as possible. I wasn't going to argue when they changed it.
I guess I should ask questions about what the gender flag directly affects or is affected by. Our HR department sends such short to the point messages and they really don't explain anything.
all i know is my former employer BLATANTLY refused to change ANYTHING at all when i started transitioning. they said i needed a court oreder for EVERYTHING to be changed in the computer system, but they could change addresses and phone numbers, what's the difference for a name and gender change?? certain places have bigots who run them and want to make sure only their ass is covered and out you whatever chance they get, which is basically what my former employer did. it was a twisted blessing when they finally fired me.
Thanks for contributing to this thread! I am still waiting to hear back from main HR. Maybe tomorrow.
But another thing interesting happened the other day. I went to the dentist (Penn Dental School) and my doctor's assistant asked me if I wanted to change my name in my records. I said "sure". She changed it! Then the billing lady there asked me if I wanted to change my gender flag. Of course I said I did and she hit save.
There is really a great group of people that work there. So helpful and caring it is just amazing.
your welcome!!
since i pay out of pocket for everything i fill out the information with what i need to. last time i went to my family physician, they changed my documents and all i did was fill out the forms with what i wanted them to put in the computer. they came in and asked me all the right questions and i was fine with that. some people are just better than others. i think employers are the worst and all they want to do is make sure they aren't sponsoring a terrorist to put their company on the map. has anyone ever heard of The Transgender Bomber??---yeah me neither!!!
Congrats on the coming out. When I came out at work they gave me the option of changing my gender marker, but I chose not to because it would have changed it on my insurance and potentially caused problems if I needed anything covered that dealt with those original parts that I still have.
My gender marker at work and for insurance were two different things. I wonder why yours is the same?
I got a call from our main HR people yesterday and they hooked me up with someone at the affirmative action office on campus and I meet with them Monday to fill a form out then take it to HR and they will then change my gender marker.
People really just don't know how to deal with things like this and even though there is not a policy stating I can't change my gender marker one person 'thinks' I can't so they say no. Maybe because they have never done it before. But don't take the 'no's' sitting down! Make them explain why they can't and if they can't give you a good answer find someone who can help you.
good luck with that!! i hope you find someone. i don't think i will have that problem any longer as i got my F on my license today, no questions, no fuss. YAY!!!